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byRoniiTton  and  others*  1890.  2  vols.   12; 

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"BOOTS  AND  SADDLES" 


OR  LIFE  m  DAKOTA  WITH  GENERAL  CUSTER 


BY 

ELIZABETH    B.   CUSTER 


WITH    PORTRAIT  AND  MAP 


NEW    YORK 
HARPER    &    BROTHERS,    FRANKLIN    SQUARE 


Copyright,  1885,  by  IlARrER  &  BRornERs. 


All  Hiilih  remrved. 


UDebicatcb 

TO 

MY    HUSBAND 

THE  ECHO  OF   WHOSE  VOICE  HAS  BEEN  MY  INSPIRATION 


PREFACE. 


One  of  tlie  motives  that  liave  actuated  me  in  re- 
calling these  simple  annals  of  onr  daily  life,  has  been 
to  give  a  glimpse  to  civilians  of  garrison  and  camp 
life  —  about  which  thej  seem  to  have  such  a  very 
imperfect  knowledge. 

This  ignorance  exists  especially  WMtli  reference  to 
anything  pertaining  to  the  cavalry,  which  is  almost 
invariablj'  stationed  on  the  extreme  frontier. 

The  isolation  of  the  cavalry  posts  makes  them  quite 
inaccessible  to  travellers,  and  the  exposure  incident 
to  meeting  warlike  Indians  does  not  tempt  the  visits 
of  friends  or  even  of  the  ventnresome  tourist.  Our 
life,  therefore,  was  often  as  separate  from  the  rest  of 
the  world  as  if  we  had  been  living  on  an  island  in 
the  ocean. 

Very  little  has  been  written  regarding  the  domestic 
life  of  an  army  family,  and  yet  I  cannot  believe  that 
it  is  without  interest;  for  the  innumerable  questions 


6  TREFACE. 

that  are  asked  about  onr  occupations,  amusements,  and 
mode  of  liouse-keeping,  lead  mo  to  Lope  that  the  actual 
answers  to  these  queries  contained  in  this  little  story 
will  be  acceptable.  This  must  also  be  my  apology  for 
entering  in  some  instances  so  minutely  into  trifling 
perplexities  and  events,  whicli  went  to  fill  up  the  sum 
of  our  existence. 

E.  B.  a 

llfS  East  ISth  Street, 

New  York  (My. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

.  I.  Chanoe  op  Station 1* 

.II.  A  Blizzard .     .     17 

III.  Western  Hospitality 30 

IV.  Cavalry  on  the  March 37 

V.  Cajiping  among  the  Sioux .49 

VI.  A  Visit  to  the  Village  of  "Ttvo  Bears"   ...     GO 

VII.  Adventures  during  the  Last  Days  or  the  TrlAiicn    73 

VIII.  Separation  and  Reunion 66 

IX.  Our  Nev?-  Home  at  Fort  Lincoln M 

X.  Incidents  op  E%'ery-day  Life 104 

XI.  The  Burning  of  our  Quarters. — Carrying  the 

Mail 115 

XII.  Perplexities  and  Pleasures  op  Domestic  Life   .  124 

XIII.  A  "Strong  Heart"  Dance! 131 

XIV.  Garrison  Life 138 

XV.  General  Custer's  Literary  WonK 140 

XVI.  Indian  Depredations 154 

XVII.  A  Day  of  Anxiety  and  Terror 159 

XVIII.  Improvements  at  the  Post,  and  G-ACDKNiNa     .     .  167 

XIX.  General  Custer's  Library 174 

XX.  The  Summer  of  the  Black  IIills  Expedition  .     .  181 


8  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  FACE 

XXI.  Domestic  Tkials 194 

XXII.  Capture  and  Escape  of  RAiN-iN-TnE-FACE .    .    .  203 

XXIII.  Garrison  Amusements 216 

XXIV.  An  Indian  Council 235 

XXV.  Breaking  Up  of  the  Missouri 229 

XXVI.  Curious  Characters  and  Excursionists  among  us  240 

XXVII.  Religious  Services. — Lea\^  of  Absence   .     .     .  247 

XXVIII.  A  Winter's  Journey  across  the  Plains    .    .    .  253 

XXIX.  Our  Life's  Last  Chapter 261 

APPENDIX :  With  Extracts  of  General  Custer's  Let- 
ters      ........  271 


BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 


CHAPTER  I. 

CHANGE    OF    STATION". 


Geneeal  Cltster  graduated  at  West  Point  just  in 
time  to  take  part  in  the  battle  of  Bull  Run.  IIo 
served  with  his  regiment — the  5th  Cavalry — for  a  time, 
but  eventually  was  appointed  aide-de-camp  to  General 
McClellan.  lie  came  to  liis  sister's  home  in  my  native 
town,  Monroe,  Michigan,  during  the  winter  of  1863, 
and  there  I  first  met  him.  In  the  spring  he  returned  to 
the  army  in  Virginia,  and  was  promoted  that  summer, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-three,  from  captain  to  brigadier- 
general.  During  the  following  autumn  he  came  to 
Monroe  to  recover  from  a  flesh-wound,  which,  though 
not  serious,  disabled  him  somewhat.  At  that  time  we 
became  engnged.  When  his  twenty  da3's'  leave  of  ab- 
sence had  expired  he  went  back  to  duty,  and  did  not 
return  until  a  few  days  before  our  marriage,  in  Febru- 
ary, 1864. 

AVe  had  no  sooner  reached  Washington  on  our  wed- 
ding-journey than  telegrams  came,  following  one  another 
in  quick  succession,  asking  him  to  give  up  the  rest  of 

^1* 


10  BOOTS   AND   SADDLES. 

liis  leave  of  absence,  and  Imstcn  without  an  liour's  delaj 
to  tlie  front.  I  begged  so  hard  not  to  be  left  behind 
that  I  finally  prevailed.  The  result  was  that  I  found 
myself  in  a  few  hours  on  the  extreme  wing  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  in  an  isolated  Virginia  farm-house, 
finishing  my  honeymoon  alonCo  I  had  so  besought  bins 
to  allow  me  to  come  that  I  did  not  dare  own  to  myself 
the  desolation  and  fright  I  felt.  In  the  preparation  for 
the  hurried  raid  which  my  husband  liad  been  ordered  to 
make  he  had  sent  to  cavalry  head-quarters  to  provide 
for  my  safetj^,  and  troops  w^ere  in  reality  near,  although 
I  could  not  see  them. 

The  generaPs  old  colored  servant,  Eliza,  comforted 
me,  and  the  Southern  family  in  the  house  took  pity 
upon  my  anxiety.  It  was  a  sudden  plunge  into  a  life 
of  vicissitude  and  danger,  and  I  Imrdly  remember  the 
time  during  the  twelve  years  that  followed  when  I 
vv'as  not  in  fear  of  some  immediate  peril,  or  in  dread 
of  some  danger  that  threatened.  After  the  raid  was 
ended,  we  spent  some  delightful  weeks  together,  and 
when  the  regular  spring  campaign  began  I  returned  to 
Washington,  where  I  remained  until  the  surrender  and 
the  close  of  the  war. 

After  that  we  went  to  Texas  for  a  year,  my  husband 
still  acting  as  major-general  in  command  of  Volunteers. 
In  1S66  we  returned  to  Michigan,  and  the  autumn  of 
the  same  year  found  us  in  Kansas,  where  the  general 
assumed  charge  of  the  7th  (Regular)  Cavalry,  to  which 
he  had  been  assigned,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colo- 
nel in  the  Regular  Army.  We  remained  in  Kansas  five 
years,  during  which  time  I  was  the  only  otficer's  wife 


CHANGE  OF  STATION.  11 

wlio  always  followed  the  regiment.  We  were  tlien  or- 
dered, with  the  regiment,  to  Kentucky.  After  being 
stationed  in  Elizabethtown  for  two  years,  we  went  to 
Dakota  in  the  spring  of  1873. 

When  orders  came  for  the  7th  Cavalry  to  go  into  the 
field  again,  General  Custer  was  delighted.  The  regi- 
ment was  stationed  in  various  parts  of  the  South,  on  the 
very  disagreeable  duty  of  breaking  up  illicit  distilleries 
and  suppressing  the  Ku-klux.  Fortunately  for  us,  being 
in  Kentucky,  we  knew  very  little  of  this  service.  It 
seemed  an  nnsoldierly  life,  and  it  was  certainly  uncon- 
genial ;  for  a  true  cavalryman  feels  that  a  life  in  the 
saddle  on  the  free  open  plain  is  his  legitimate  exist- 
ence. 

Not  an  hour  elapsed  after  the  official  document  an- 
nouncing our  change  of  station  had  arrived  before  our 
house  was  torn  np.  In  the  confusion  I  managed  to  re- 
tire to  a  corner  with  an  atlas,  and  surreptitiously  look 
up  the  territory  to  which  we  were  going.  I  hardly 
liked  to  own  that  I  had  forgotten  its  location.  When 
my  finger  trat^ed  our  route  from  Kentucky  almost  up 
to  the  border  of  the  British  Possessions,  it  seemed  as  if 
we  were  going  to  Lapland. 

From  the  first  days  of  our  marriage,  General  Custer 
celebrated  every  order  to  move  with  wild  demonstra- 
tions of  joy.  His  exuberance  of  spirits  alwaj's  found 
expression  in  some  boyish  pranks,  before  he  could  set 
to  work  seriously  to  prepare  for  duty.  As  soon  as  the 
officer  announcing  the  order  to  move  had  disappeared, 
all  sorts  of  wild  hilarity  began.  I  had  learned  to  take 
up  a  safe  position  on  top  of  the  tabic;  that  is,  if  I  hud 


12  BOOTS   AXD   SxVDDLES. 

not  already  been  forcibly  placed  there  as  a  spectator. 
The  most  disastrous  result  of  the  proceedings  M'as  j)os- 
sibly  a  broken  chair,  M'hich  the  master  of  ceremonies 
would  crash,  and,  perhaps,  thi-ow  into  the  kitchen  by 
way  of  informing  the  cook  that  good  news  had  come. 
We  had  so  few  household  effects  that  it  was  something 
of  a  loss  when  we  chanced  to  bo  in  a  country  where 
they  could  not  be  replaced.  I  can  see  Eliza's  woolly 
head  now,  as  she  thrust  it  through  the  door  to  repri- 
mand her  master,  and  say,  "  Chairs  don't  grow  on  trees 
in  these  yere  parts,  gen'l."  As  for  me,  I  was  tossed 
about  the  room,  and  all  sorts  of  jokes  were  played  upon 
mo  before  the  frolic  was  ended.  After  such  participa- 
tion in  the  celebration,  I  was  almost  too  tired  with  the 
laughter  and  fun  to  begin  packing. 

I  know  that  it  would  surprise  a  well-regulated  mover 
to  see  what  short  work  it  was  for  us  to  prepare  for  our 
journeys.  We  began  by  having  a  supply  of  gunny- 
sacks  and  hay  brought  in  from  the  stables.  The  saddler 
appeared,  and  all  our  old  traps  that  had  been  taken 
around  with  us  so  many  years  were  once  tnore  tied  and 
sewed  up.  The  kitchen  utensils  were  plunged  into  bar- 
I'cls,  generally  left  uncovered  in  the  hurry ;  rolls  of 
bedding  encased  in  waterproof  cloth  or  canvas  were 
sti-apped  and  roped,  and  the  few  pictures  and  books 
were  crowded  into  chests  and  boxes.  When  these  pos- 
sessions were  loaded  upon  the  wagon,  at  the  last  mo- 
ment there  always  appeared  the  cook's  bedding  to  sur- 
mount the  motley  pile.  Iler  property  was  invariably 
tied  up  in  a  flaming  quilt  representing  souvenirs  of 
licr  friends'  dresses.     She  followed  that  last  instalment 


CHANGE   OF   STATION.  13 

with  anxious  eyes,  and,  true  to  her  early  training, 
grasped  lier  red  bandanna,  containing  a  few  last  things, 
while  the  satchel  she  scorned  to  use  hung  empty  on  her 
arm. 

In  all  this  confusion  no  one  was  cross.  AVe  rushed 
and  gasped  tlirough  the  one  day  given  us  for  prepara- 
tion, and  I  had  only  time  to  be  glad  with  my  husband 
that  he  was  going  back  to  the  life  of  activity  that  he  so 
loved.  His  enforced  idleness  made  it  seem  to  hiui  that 
he  was  cumbering  the  earth,  and  he  rejoiced  to  feel  that 
he  was  again  to  have  the  chance  to  live  np  to  his  idea 
of  a  soldier.  Had  I  dared  to  stop  in  that  hurried  day 
and  think  of  myself  all  the  courage  would  have  gone 
out  of  me.  This  removal  to  Dakota  meant  to  my  lius- 
band  a  reunion  with  his  regiment  and  summer  cam- 
paigns against  Indians  ;  to  me  it  meant  months  of  lone- 
liness, anxiety,  and  terror.  Fortunately  there  was  too 
much  to  do  to  leave  leisure  for  thought. 

Steamers  were  ready  for  us  at  Memphis,  and  we  went 
thither  by  rail  to  embark.  When  the  regiment  was 
gathered  together,  after  a  separation  of  two  years,  there 
M'ere  hearty  greetings,  and  exchanges  of  troublous  or 
droll  experiences  ;  and  thankful  once  more  to  be  rc- 
nnited,  we  entered  again,  heart  and  soul,  into  the  mi- 
nutest detail  of  one  another''s  lives.  We  went  into  camp 
for  a  few  days  on  the  outskirts  of  Memphis,  and  ex- 
changed hospitalities  vrith  the  citizens.  The  bachelors 
found  an  elysium  in  the  society  of  many  very  pretty 
girls,  and  love-making  went  on  either  in  luxurious  par- 
lors or  in  the  open  air  as  they  rode  in  the  warm  spring 
weather  to  and  from  our  camp.     Three  steamers  were 


14  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

at  last  loaded  and  we  went  on  to  Cairo,  where  we  found 
the  trains  prepared  to  take  ns  into  Dakota. 

The  regiment  was  never  np  to  its  maximum  of 
twelve  hundred  men,  but  there  may  Lave  been  eight 
or  nine  hundred  soldiers  and  as  many  horses.  The 
property  of  the  companies — saddles,  equipments,  arms, 
ammunition,  and  forage — together  with  the  personal 
luggage  of  the  officers,  made  the  trains  very  lieavy, 
and  we  travelled  slowl3\  We  were  a  week  or  moi'e 
on  the  route.  Our  days  were  varied  by  the  long 
stops  necessary  to  water  the  horses,  and  occasionally 
to  take  them  out  of  the  cars  for  exercise.  My  hus- 
band and  I  alwaj's  went  on  these  occasions  to  loose 
the  dogs  and  have  a  frolic  and  a  little  visit  with  our 
own  horses.  The  youth  and  gamins  of  the  village 
gathered  about  us  as  if  we  had  been  some  travelling 
show.  While  on  the  journey  one  of  our  family  liad  a 
birthday.  This  was  always  a  day  of  frolic  and  fun, 
and  even  when  we  were  on  the  extreme  frontier,  pres- 
ents were  sent  for  into  the  States,  and  we  had  a  little 
dinner  and  a  birthday  cake.  This  birthday  that  came 
during  the  journej^,  though  so  inopportune,  did  not 
leave  utterly  without  resources  the  minds  of  those 
whose  ingenuity  M'as  quickened  by  affection.  The 
train  was  delayed  that  day  for  an  unusually  long  time; 
our  colored  cook,  Mary,  in  despair  because  we  ate  so 
little  in  the  "  twenty-minutes-for-refrcshments"  places, 
determined  on  an  impromptu  feast.  She  slyly  took  a 
basket  and  filled  it  at  the  shops  in  the  village  street. 
She  had  already  made  friends  with  a  woman  who  had 
a  little  cabin  tucked  in  between  the  rails  and  the  em- 


CHANGE   OF  STATION.  15 

bankment,  and  there  the  never  absent  "eureka"  coffee- 
pot was  produced  and  most  delicious  coffee  drip])ed. 
Returning  to  the  car  stove,  which  she  liad  discovered 
was  filled  with  a  deep  bed  of  coals,  she  broiled  us  a 
steak  and  baked  some  potatoes.  The  general  and  I 
were  made  to  sit  down  opposite  each  other  in  one  of 
the  compartments.  A  board  was  brought,  covered  with 
a  clean  towel,  and  we  did  table-legs  to  this  impromptu 
table.  We  did  not  dare  move,  and  scarcely  ventured 
to  giggle,  for  fear  we  should  overturn  the  laden  board 
in  our  laps.  For  dessert,  a  large  plate  of  macai'oons, 
which  were  an  especial  weakness  of  mine,  M'as  brought 
out  as  a  surprise.  Mary  told  me,  with  great  glee,  how 
she  had  seen  the  general  prowling  in  the  bakers'  shops 
to  buy  them,  and  described  the  train  of  small  boys  wdio 
followed  him  when  he  came  back  with  his  brown  paper 
parcel.  "Miss  Libbie,"  she  said, "they  thought  a  sure 
enough  gen'l  always  went  on  horseback  and  carried  his 
sword  in  his  hand." 

We  were  so  hungrj''  we  scarcely  realized  that  wc 
were  anything  but  the  embodiment  of  picturesque  grace. 
No  one  conld  be  otherwise  than  awkward  in  trying  to 
cut  food  on  sueli  an  uncertain  base,  while  Mary  had 
taken  the  last  scrap  of  dignity  aw\ay  from  the  general's 
appearance  by  enveloping  him  in  a  kitchen  towel  as  a 
substitute  fur  a  napkin.  AVith  their  usual  indepen- 
dence and  indifference  to  ceremony,  troops  of  curious 
citizens  stalked  through  the  car  to  stare  at  n)y  husband. 
We  went  on  eating  cahnly,  unconscious  that  thoy 
thought  the  ])icture  hardly  in  keeping  with  their  pre- 
conceived ideas  of   a  commanding  ofhcer.     When  wc 


16  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

tliaiiked  Mavy  for  onr  feast,  her  face  beamed  and  shone 
with  a  combination  of  joy  at  oin-  delight  and  heat  from 
the  stove.  "When  she  lifted  np  our  frugal  board  and 
set  us  free,  we  had  a  long  stroll,  talking  over  other 
birthdays  and  those  yet  to  come,  until  the  train  was 
ready  to  start. 


A  BLIZZARD.  17 


CHAPTER  II. 

A   BLIZZAED. 

Aftek  so  many  cla3'S  in  tlio  car,  we  wore  glad  to  stop 
on  an  open  plain  about  a  mile  from  tlic  town  of  Yank- 
ton, where  the  road  ended. 

The  three  chief  considerations  fur  a  camp  are  wood, 
water,  and  good  ground.  The  latter  we  had,  but  we 
were  at  some  distance  from  the  water,  and  neither  trees 
nor  brushwood  were  in  sight. 

The  long  trains  were  unloaded  of  their  freight,  and 
the  plains  about  us  seemed  to  swarm  with  men  and 
horses.  I  was  helped  down  from  the  Pullman  car, 
where  inlaid  woods,  mirrors,  and  plush  surrounded  us, 
to  the  ground,  perfectly  bare  of  every  earthly  comfort. 
The  other  ladies  of  the  regiment  went  on  to  tlie  hotel 
in  the  town.  Tiie  general  suggested  that  I  should  go 
with  them,  but  I  had  been  in  camp  so  many  summers 
it  was  not  a  formidable  matter  for  me  to  remain,  and 
fortunately  for  what  followed  I  did  so.  The  liouse- 
hold  belongings  were  gathered  together.  A  family  of 
little  new  puppies,  some  half -grown  dogs,  the  cages  of 
mocking-birds  and  canaries,  were  all  corralled  safely  in 
a  little  stockade  made  of  chests  and  trunks,  and  we  set 
ourselves  about  making  a  temporary  home.  The  geii- 
cral  and  a  number  of  soldiers,  composing  the  head- 
quarters detail,  were  obliged  to  go  at  once  to  lay  out 


IS  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

the  main  camp  and  assign  the  companies  to  tlieir  places. 
Later  on,  when  the  most  important  work  was  done,  our 
fents  were  to  be  pitched.  Wliile  I  sat  on  a  chest  wait- 
ing, tlie  air  grew  suddenly  chillj',  tiio  bright  snn  of  the 
morning  disappeared,  and  the  rain  began  to  fall.  Had 
we  been  accustomed  to  the  climate  we  would  have 
known  that  these  changes  were  the  precursors  of  a 
snow-storm. 

When  we  left  Memphis,  not  a  fortnight  before,  we 
wore  muslin  gowns  and  were  then  uncomfortably 
warm  ;  it  seemed  impossible  that  even  so  far  north 
there  could  be  a  returned  winter  in  the  middle  of 
April.  We  were  yet  to  realize  what  had  been  told  us 
of  the  climate — that  there  were  "eight  months  of  win- 
ter and  four  of  very  late  in  the  fall."  On  the  bluffs 
beyond  us  was  a  signal -station,  but  they  sent  us  no 
warning.  Many  years  of  campaigning  in  the  Indian 
Territory,  Kansas,  Colorado,  and  Nebraska,  give  one  an 
idea  of  what  the  weather  can  do ;  but  each  new  coun- 
try has  its  peculiarities,  and  it  seemed  w^e  had  reached 
one  where  all  the  others  were  outdone.  As  the  after- 
noon of  that  iirst  day  advanced  the  wind  blew  colder, 
and  T  found  myself  eying  with  envy  a  little  half-iiii- 
islied  cabin  without  an  enclosure,  standing  by  itself. 
Years  of  encountering  the  winds  of  Kansas,  when  our 
tents  were  torn  and  blown  down  so  often,  had  taught 
me  to  appreciate  any  kind  of  a  house,  even  though  it 
were  built  upon  the  sand  as  this  one  was.  A  dug-out, 
which  the  tornado  swept  over,  but  could  not  harm,  was 
even  more  of  a  treasure.  The  change  of  climate  from 
the  extreme  south  to  the  far  north  had  made  a  number 


A   BLIZZARD.  l<j 

of  the  men  ill,  and  even  the  snpci'b  health  of  the  gen- 
eral had  suffered.  He  continned  to  superintend  the 
camp,  however,  thongh  I  begged  hiui  from  time  to  time 
as  I  saw  him  to  give  np.  I  felt  sure  ho  needed  a  shel 
ter  and  some  comfort  at  once,  so  I  took  courage  to  plan 
for  myself.  Before  this  I  had  alwa^'s  waited,  as  the 
general  preferred  to  prepare  everything  for  me.  Af- 
ter  he  had  consented  that  we  should  try  for  the  little 
house,  some  of  the  kind-hearted  soldiers  found  the  own- 
er in  a  distant  cabin,  and  he  rented  it  to  us  for  a  few 
days.  The  place  was  equal  to  a  palace  to  me.  There 
was  no  plastering,  and  the  house  seemed  hardly  weather- 
proof. It  had  a  floor,  however,  and  an  upper  story  di- 
vided off  by  beams;  over  tliese  Mary  and  I  stretched 
blankets  and  shawls  and  so  made  two  rooms.  It  did 
not  take  long  to  settle  our  few  things,  and  when  wood 
and  -water  were  brought  from  a  distance  we  were  quite 
ready  for  house-keeping,  except  that  we  lacked  a  stove 
and  some  supjdies.  Mary  walked  into  the  town  to  hire 
or  buy  a  small  cooking-stove,  but  she  could  not  induce 
the  merchant  to  bring  it  out  that  night.  She  was 
thoughtful  enough  to  take  along  a  basket  and  brouglit 
with  her  a  little  marketing.  Before  she  had  come 
within  sight  of  our  cabin  on  her  return,  the  snow  was 
falling  so  fast  it  was  with  difhculty  that  she  found  her 
way. 

Meanwhile  the  general  had  returned  completely  ex- 
hausted and  very  ill.  Without  his  knowledge  I  sent 
for  the  surgeon,  who,  like  all  of  his  profession  in  the 
army,  came  promptly.  lie  gave  me  some  powerful 
medicine  to   administer  every  hour,  and   forbade   the 


aO  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

general  to  leave  bis  bed.  It  was  growing  dark,  and 
we  were  in  the  midst  of  a  Dakota  blizzard.  The  snow 
was  so  fine  that  it  penetrated  the  smallest  cracks,  and 
soon  we  found  white  lines  appearing  all  around  us, 
where  the  roof  joined  tlie  walls,  on  the  windows  and 
under  the  doors.  Outside  the  air  was  so  thick  with  the 
whirling,  tiny  particles  that  it  was  almost  impossible  to 
see  one's  band  held  out  before  one.  The  snow  was 
fluffy  and  thick,  like  w^ool,  and  fell  so  rapidly,  and  seem- 
ingly from  all  directions,  that  it  gave  me  a  feeling  of 
suffocation  as  I  stood  outside,  Mary  was  not  easily 
discouraged,  and  piling  a  few  light  fagots  outside  the 
door,  she  tried  to  light  a  fire.  The  wind  and  the  muf- 
fling snow  put  out  every  little  blaze  that  started,  how- 
ever, and  so,  giving  it  up,  she  went  into  the  house  and 
found  the  luncheon -basket  we  liad  brought  from  the 
car,  in  whicli  remained  some  sandwiclies,  and  these 
composed  our  supper. 

The  night  had  almost  settled  down  upon  us  when  the 
adjutant  came  for  orders.  Knowing  the  scarcity  of 
fuel  and  the  danger  to  the  horses  from  exposure  to  the 
rio;or  of  such  weather  after  their  removal  from  a  warm 
climate,  the  general  ordered  the  breaking  of  camp.  All 
the  soldiers  were  directed  to  take  their  horses  and  go 
in'to  Yankton,  and  ask  the  citizens  to  give  them  slielter 
in  their  homes,  cow-sheds,  and  stables.  In  a  short  time 
the  camp  was  nearly  deserted,  only  the  laundresses,  two 
or  three  officers,  and  a  few  dismounted  soldiers  remain- 
ing. The  towns-people,  true  to  the  unvarying  western 
hospitalit}^,  gave  everything  they  could  to  the  use  ot 
the  regiment;   the  ofKccrs  found  places  in  the  hotels. 


A   BLIZZARD.  21 

The  sounds  of  tlie  hoofs  of  the  linrrying  horses  flving 
by  our  cabin  on  their  way  to  the  town  had  hardly  died 
out  before  the  black  night  closed  in  and  left  us  alone 
on  that  wide,  deserted  plain.  The  servants,  Mary  and 
Ilam,  did  what  they  could  to  make  the  room  below- 
stairs  comfortable  by  stopping  the  cracks  and  barricad- 
ing the  frail  door.  The  thirtj'-six  hours  of  our  impris- 
onment there  seems  now  a  frio-htful  niorhtmare.  The 
wind  grew  higher  and  higher,  and  shrieked  about  the 
little  house  dismally.  It  was  built  without  a  founda- 
tion, and  was  so  rickety  it  seemed  as  it  rocked  in  a 
great  gust  of  wind  that  it  surely  would  be  unroofed  or 
overturned.  The  general  was  too  ill  for  me  to  venture 
to  find  my  usual  comfort  from  his  re-assuring  voice.  I 
dressed  in  my  heaviest  gown  and  jacket,  and  remained 
under  the  blankets  as  much  as  I  could  to  keep  warm. 
Occasionally  I  crept  out  to  shake  off  the  snow  from  the 
counterpane,  for  it  sifted  in  betu'een  the  roof  and  clap- 
boards very  rapidly,  I  hardly  dared  take  the  little 
phial  in  my  benumbed  fingers  to  drop  the  precious  med- 
icine for  fear  it  would  fall.  I  realized,  as  the  night  ad- 
vanced, that  we  were  as  isolated  from  the  town,  and 
even  the  camp,  not  a  mile  distant,  as  if  we  had  been  on 
an  island  in  the  river.  The  doctor  had  intended  to  re- 
turn to  us,  but  his  serious  face  and  impressive  injunc- 
tions made  me  certain  that  he  considered  the  life  of  the 
general  dependent  on  the  medicine  being  regularly 
given. 

During  the  night  I  was  startled  by  hearing  a  dull 
sound,  as  of  something  falling  heavily.  Flying  down  the 
stairs  I  found  the  servants  prying  open  the  frozen  and 


22  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

snow-packed  door,  to  admit  a  half  dozen  soldiers  who, 
becoming  bewildered  by  the  snow,  had  been  saved  by 
the  faint  light  we  had  placed  in  the  window.  After 
that  several  came,  and  two  w^ere  badly  frozen.  We 
were  in  despair  of  finding  any  way  of  wanning  them, 
as  there  was  no  bedding,  and,  of  course,  no  fire,  until  I 
remembered  the  carpets  whicli  were  sewed  np  in  bun- 
dles and  heaped  in  one  corner,  where  the  boxes  were, 
and  whicli  we  were  not  to  use  until  the  garrison  was 
reached.  Spreading  them  out,  we  liad  enough  to  roll  up 
each  wanderer  as  he  came.  The  frozen  men  were  in  so 
exhausted  a  condition  that  they  required  immediate  at- 
tention. Their  sufferings  were  intense,  and  I  could  not 
forgive  myself  for  not  having  something  with  which  to 
revive  them.  The  general  never  tasted  liquor,  and  wo 
were  both  so  well  always  we  did  not  even  keep  it  for 
use  in  case  of  sickness. 

I  saw  symptoms  of  that  deadly  stupor  whicli  is  the 
sure  precursor  of  freezing,  when  I  fortunately  remem- 
bered a  bottle  of  alcohol  which  had  been  brought  for 
the  spirit-lamps.  Mary  objected  to  using  the  only 
means  by  which  we  could  make  coffee  for  ourselves, 
but  the  groans  and  exhausted  and  haggard  faces  of  the 
men  won  her  over,  and  we  saw  them  revive  under  the 
influence  of  the  fiery  liquid.  Poor  fellows!  Tiiey  af- 
terwards lost  their  feet,  and  some  of  their  fingers  had 
also  to  be  amputated.  The  first  soldier  who  had  reached 
us  unharmed,  except  from  exhaustion,  explained  that 
they  had  all  attempted  to  find  their  way  to  town,  and 
the  storm  had  completely  overcome  them.  Fortunately 
one  had  clung  to  a  bag  of  hard-tack,  which  was  all  they 


A   BLIZZARD.  23 

had  had  to  eat.  At  last  the  day  came,  but  so  darkened 
by  the  snow  it  seemed  rather  a  twib'ght.  The  drifts 
were  on  three  sides  of  us  like  a  wall.  The  long  hours 
dragged  themselves  away,  leaving  the  general  too  weak 
to  rise,  and  in  great  need  of  hot,  nourishing  food.  I 
grew  more  and  more  terrified  at  our  utterly  desolate 
condition  and  his  continued  illness,  though  fortunately 
lie  did  not  suffer.  lie  was  too  ill,  and  I  too  anxious,  to 
eat  the  fragments  that  remained  in  the  luncheon-basket. 
The  snow  continued  to  come  down  in  great  swirling 
sheets,  while  the  wind  shook  the  loose  window-casings 
and  sometimes  broke  in  the  door.  When  nio-ht  came 
again  and  the  cold  increased,  I  believed  that  our  hours 
were  numbered.  I  missed  the  voice  of  the  courao-eous 
Mary,  for  she  had  sunk  down  in  a  corner  exhausted  for 
want  of  sleep,  while  Ilam  had  been  completely  demoral- 
ized from  the  first.  Occasionally  I  melted  a  little  place 
on  the  frozen  window-pane,  and  saw  that  the  drifts  were 
almost  level  with  the  upper  windows  on  either  side,  but 
that  the  wind  had  swept  a  clear  space  before  the  door. 
During  the  night  the  sound  of  the  tramping  of  many 
feet  rose  above  the  roar  of  the  storm.  A  great  drove 
of  mules  rushed  up  to  the  sheltered  side  of  the  house. 
Their  brays  had  a  sound  of  terror  as  they  pushed, 
kicked,  and  crowded  themselves  against  our  little  cabin. 
For  a  time  they  huddled  together,  hoping  for  warmth, 
and  then  despairing,  they  made  a  mad  rush  away,  and 
were  soon  lost  in  the  white  wall  of  snow  beyond.  All 
night  long  the  neigh  of  a  distressed  horse,  almost  hu- 
man in  its  appeal,  came  to  us  at  intervals.  The  door 
was  pried  open  once,  thiiddng  it  might  be  some  suffer- 


24  BOOTS   AND   SADDLES. 

ing  fellow-creature  in  distress.  The  strange,  Avild  ejes 
of  the  horse  peering  in  for  help,  hannted  me  long  af- 
terwards. Occasionally  a  lost  dog  lifted  up  a  howl  of 
distress  under  our  window,  but  before  the  door  could 
be  opened  to  admit  him  he  had  disappeared  in  the 
darkness.  "When  the  night  was  nearly  spent  I  sprang 
again  to  the  window  with  a  new  horror,  for  no  one, 
until  he  licars  it  for  himself,  can  realize  what  varied 
sounds  animals  make  in  the  excitement  of  peril.  A 
drove  of  liogs,  squealing  and  grunting,  were  push- 
ing against  the  house,  and  the  door  which  liad  with- 
stood so  much  had  to  be  held  to  keep  it  from  being 
broken  in. 

It  was  almost  unbearable  to  hear  the  groans  of  the 
soldiers  over  their  swollen  and  painful  feet,  and  know 
that  we  could  do  nothing  to  ease  them.  To  be  in  the 
midst  of  sucli  suffering,  and  yet  have  no  way  of  amel- 
iorating it ;  to  have  shelter,  and  yet  to  be  surrounded  by 
dumb  beasts  appealing  to  us  for  help,  was  simply  terri- 
ble. Every  minute  seemed  a  day ;  every  liour  a  year. 
When  daylight  came  I  dropped  into  an  exhausted  slum- 
ber, and  was  awakened  by  Mary  standing  over  our  bed 
with  a  tray  of  hot  breakfast.  I  asked  if  help  had  come, 
and  finding  it  had  not,  of  course,  I  could  not  understand 
the  smoking  food.  She  told  me  that  feeling  the  neces- 
sity of  the  general's  eating,  it  had  come  to  her  in  the 
night-watches  that  shb  would  cut  up  the  large  candles 
she  had  pilfered  from  the  cars,  and  try  if  she  could 
cook  over  the  many  short  pieces  placed  close  together, 
so  as  to  make  a  large  flame.  The  result  was  hot  coffee 
and  some  bits  of  the  steak  she  had  brought  from  town, 


A  BLIZZARD.  25 

fried  with  a  few  slices  of  potatoes.  She  conld  not  re- 
sist telling  nie  how  much  better  she  could  have  done 
had  I  not  given  away  the  alcohol  to  the  frozen  men  ! 

The  breakfast  revived  the  general  so  much  that  he 
began  to  make  light  of  danger  in  order  to  quiet  me. 
The  snow  had  ceased  to  fall,  but  for  all  that  it  still 
seemed  tliat  we  were  castaways  and  forgotten,  hidden 
under  the  drifts  that  nearly  surrounded  us.  Help  was 
really  near  at  hand,  however,  at  even  this  darkest  hour. 
A  knock  at  the  door,  and  the  cheery  voices  of  men 
came  up  to  our  ears.  Some  citizens  of  Yankton  h.ad  at 
last  found  tlieir  way  to  our  relief,  and  the  officers,  who 
neither  knew  the  way  nor  how  to  travel  over  such  a 
country,  had  gladly  followed.  They  told  us  that  they 
had  made  several  attempts  to  get  out  to  us,  but  the 
snow  was  so  soft  and  light  that  they  could  make  no 
headway.  They  floundered  and  sank  down  almost  out 
of  sight,  even  in  the  streets  of  the  town.  Of  course 
no  horse  could  travel,  but  they  told  me  of  their  intense 
anxiety,  and  said  that  fearing  I  might  be  in  need  of 
immediate  help  they  had  dragged  a  cutter  over  the 
drifts,  which  now  had  a  crust  of  ice  formed  from  the 
sleet  and  the  moisture  of  the  damp  night  air.  Of  course 
I  declined  to  go  without  the  general,  but  I  was  more 
touched  than  I  could  express  by  their  thought  of  me. 
I  made  some  excuse  to  go  np-stairs,  where,  with  my 
liead  buried  in  the  sliawl  ])artition,  I  tried  to  smother 
the  sob3  that  had  been  suppressed  during  the  terrors  of 
our  desolation.  Here  tlie  general  found  me,  and  though 
comforting  me  by  tender  words,  he  still  reminded  me 
tliat  he  would  not  like  any  one  to  know  that  I  had  lost 

9 


26  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

mv  pluck  Vi'lien  all  tlio  danger  I  had  passed  tliruugh  was 
reallj  ended. 

Tlie  officers  made  their  way  over  to  camp,  for  tliey 
were  anxious  and  uncertain  as  to  what  might  have  hap- 
pened to  the  few  persons  remaining  there.  I  had  been 
extremely  troubled,  for  each  of  the  soldiers  for  whom 
we  liad  been  caring  had,  with  a  trooper's  usual  love  of 
the  sensational,  told  ns  of  frozen  men  and  of  the  birth 
of  babies  to  tlie  laundresses.  These  stories  had  reached 
town  through  stragglers,  until  we  imagined  from  the  ex- 
aggeration that  enough  newly -born  children  might  be 
found  to  start  a  small  orphan  asylum.  The  officers  soon 
returned  with  the  story  reduced  to  one  little  stranger 
who  had  come  safely  into  this  world  in  the  stormy 
niglit,  sheltered  by  a  tent  onl3\  No  men  vvere  frozen, 
fortunately,  thougli  all  had  suffered.  The  soldier  de- 
tailed to  take  care  of  the  genei'al's  horses  found  his  way 
back  with  them,  and  in  his  solemn  voice  told  ns  that  'v.). 
spite  of  every  effort,  sharing  his  blankets  and  holding  tlie 
little  things  through  the  storm,  the  thorough-bred  pup- 
pies had  frozen  one  by  one.  There  was  one  little  box- 
stove  in  camp  which  the  officers  bronght  back,  accom- 
panied by  its  ov.Micr,  an  old  and  somewhat  infii-m  officer. 

In  the  midst  of  all  this  excitement,  and  the  reaction 
from  the  danger,  I  could  not  suppress  mj'  sense  of  the 
ludicrous  when  I  saw  the  daintiest  and  most  exrpiisite 
officer  of  "ours,"  wdiorn  last  I  remembered  careering  on 
his  perfectly  equipped  and  prancing  steed  before  the 
admiring  eyes  of  the  Memphis  belles,  now  wound  np 
with  scarfs  and  impromptu  leggings  of  flannel ;  his  liat 
tied  down  with  a  woollen  comforter ;  buffalo  gloves  on 


A   BLIZZARD.  27 

fiis  hands;  and  clasping  a  stove-pipe,  necessary  for  the 
precious  stove. 

Some  of  the  officers  liad  brought  out  parcels  contain- 
ing food,  while  our  brother.  Colonel  Tom  Custer,  had 
struggled  with  a  large  basket  of  supplies.  In  a  short 
time  anotlier  officer  appeared  at  our  door  witli  a  face 
full  of  anxiety  about  our  welfare.  He  did  not  tell  us 
what  we  afterwards  learned  from  others,  that,  fearing 
the  citizens  vrould  give  up  going  to  us,  and  knowing 
that  he  could  not  find  the  Vv'ay  alone  over  a  country 
from  which  the  snow  had  obliterated  every  landmark. 
he  had  started  to  go  the  whole  distance  on  tiie  raih-oad. 
Coming  to  a  long  bridge  he  found  the  track  so  covered 
with  ice  that  it  was  a  dangerous  footing  ;  the  vrind  blew 
the  sleet  and  snow  in  his  face,  almost  blinding  him, 
but  nothing  daunted,  he  crawled  over  on  his  hands  and 
knees,  and  continuing  to  use  the  track  as  his  guide, 
stopped  when  he  thought  he  might  be  opposite  our 
cabin,  and  ploughed  his  way  with  difficulty  through  the 
drifts. 

When  the  officers  had  returned  to  town,  we  made  a 
fire  in  the  little  stove  which  had  been  put  up-stairs,  as 
the  pipe  was  so  short.  We  ensconced  our  visitor,  to  whom 
the  stove  belonged,  near  by.  He  was  a  capital  fireman  ; 
we  divided  our  bedding  with  him,  and  put  it  on  the 
floor,  as  close  as  possible  to  the  fire.  The  shawl  and 
blanket  partition  separated  our  rooms,  but  did  not  seem 
to  deaden  sound,  and  at  night  I  only  lost  consciousness 
of  the  audible  sleeping  of  our  guest  after  I  had  dropped 
the  point  of  a  finger  in  my  ear.  He  M'as  the  one 
among  us  who,  being  the  oldest  of  our  circle,  and  hav- 


28  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

ing  had  a  varied  experience,  was  an  authority  on  nianv 
Bubjects.  He  liad  peculiar  and  extreme  ideas  on  some 
questions.  We  listened  out  of  respect,  but  we  all  drew 
the  line  at  following  some  of  his  advice,  and  over  one 
topic  there  was  general  revolt.  lie  disbelieved  entirely 
in  the  external  or  internal  use  of  ^vater,  and  living  as  we 
did  in  countries  vrhcrc  the  rivers  were  flowing  mud,  and 
the  smaller  streams  dried  up  under  the  blazing  sun,  his 
would  have  been  a  convenient  system,  to  say  the  least. 
Unfortunately,  our  prejudices  in  favor  of  cleanliness  in- 
creased with  the  scarcity  of  water.  Bathing  became 
one  of  the  luxuries  as  well  as  one  of  the  absolute  neces- 
sities of  life.  From  being  compelled  to  do  with  very 
little  water,  wx  had  learned  almost  to  take  a  bath  in  a 
thimble,  and  to  this  da}^  I  find  myself  pouring  the  wa- 
ter out  of  a  pitcher  in  a  most  gingerly  manner,  so  strong 
is  the  power  of  habit — even  now  with  the  generous 
rush  of  the  unstinted  Croton  at  my  disposal.  The  the- 
oiy  of  our  venerable  friend  on  the  danger  of  bathing 
was  fortified  with  many  an  earnest  argument,  and  the 
advantages  of  his  improved  system  of  dry  rubbing  set 
out  elaborately  in  his  best  rhetoric.  Nevertheless,  tak- 
ing a  bath  with  the  palm  of  the  hand  was  combated  to 
the  last  by  his  hearers.  When  I  had  heard  him  arguing 
previously  I  had  rather  believed  it  to  be  the  vagary  of 
the  hour.  I  had  proof  to  the  contrary  the  next  morn- 
ing after  the  storm,  for  I  was  awakened  by  a  noise  of 
vigorons  friction  and  violent  breathing,  as  of  some  one 
laboring  diligently.  I  suddenly  remembered  the  doc- 
trine of  our  guest,  and  realized  that  he  was  putting  the- 
ory into  practice.    As  softly  as  I  awakened  n)y  husband. 


A   BLIZZARD.  39 

and  tried  to  wliispci-  to  liim,  lie  was  ou  nettles  instant- 
ly, Iiearing  the  fjiiiver  of  laughter  in  my  voice.  lie 
feared  I  might  be  heard,  and  that  the  feelings  of  the 
man  for  wh.om  he  had  such  reheard  mio-ht  be  wounded. 
He  promptly  requested  me  to  smother  ray  laughter  in 
the  blankets,  and  there  I  shook  with  merriment,  per- 
haps even  greater  because  of  the  relief  I  experienced 
in  finding  something  to  counteract  the  gloom  of  the 
preceding  hours.  And  if  I  owned  to  telling  afterwards 
that  the  old  ofHcer's  theory  and  practice  were  one,  it 
could  not  be  called  a  great  breach  of  hospitalitj',  for  ho 
gloried  in  what  he  called  advanced  ideas,  and  strove  to 
wear  the  martyr's  crown  that  all  pioneers  in  new  and 
extreme  beliefs  crowd  on  their  heads. 

Our  friend  remained  with  us  until  the  camp  was  in- 
habitable and  the  regular  order  of  military  duties  was 
resumed.  Paths  and  roads  vrere  made  through  the  snow, 
and  it  v^'as  a  great  relief  to  be  again  in  the  scenes  of 
busy  life.  We  did  not  soon  forget  our  introduction  to 
Dakota.  After  that  we  understood  why  the  frontiers- 
man builds  his  stable  near  the  house;  we  also  compre- 
liended  then  when  they  told  us  that  they  did  not  dare 
to  cross  in  a  blizzard  from  the  house  to  the  stable-door 
without  keeping  hold  of  a  rope  tied  fast  to  the  latch  as 
a  guide  for  their  safe  return  when  the  stock  was  fed. 
Afterwards,  when  even  our  cool-headed  soldiers  lost 
their  way  and  wandered  aimlessly  near  their  quarters, 
and  when  found  were  dazed  in  speech  and  look,  the 
remcmbranco  of  that  first  storm,  with  the  density  of 
the  down-coming  snow^  v.-as  a  solution  to  us  of  their  be- 
wilderment. 


30  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 


CHAPTER  III. 

WESTERN    HOSPITALITY. 

The  citizens  of  Yankton,  endeavoring  to  make  np 
for  tlie  inhospitable  reception  the  weatlicr  had  given  us, 
vied  "with  one  anotlier  in  trying  to  make  tlic  regiment 
welcome.  The  hotel  was  filled  with  the  families  of  the 
officers,  and  after  the  duties  of  the  day  were  over  in 
camp,  the  married  men  went  into  town.  "We  v.'ere 
called  npon,  asked  to  dine,  and  finally  tendered  a  hall. 
It  was  given  in  the  public  hall  of  the  town,  which,  being 
decorated  with  flags  and  ornamented  with  all  the  mili- 
tary paraphernalia  that  could  bo  used  effectively,  was. 
really  very  attractive.  We  had  left  gas  far  behind  us^ 
and  we  had  not  the  niellov/,  becoming  light  of  wax- 
candles,  but  those  Western  people  were  genei'ous  al)Out 
lamps,  as  they  are  about  eveiytiiing  else,  and  the  hall 
was  very  bright. 

The  ladies  had  many  trials  in  endeavoring  to  make 
themselves  presentable.  We  burrowed  in  the  depths  of 
trunks  for  those  bits  of  linery  that  we  had  supposed 
would  not  be  needed  again  for  years.  We  knew  the 
officers  would  do  ns  credit.  Through  all  the  sudden 
changes  of  fashion,  which  leave  an  army  lady  when  she 
goes  into  the  territories  cpiite  an  antediluvian  in  toilet 
after  a  few  months,  the  ofllccr  can  be  entirely  serene. 


WESTERN   nOSriTALITY.  CI 

He  cnu  be  conscious  that  ho  looks  his  best  in  a  perfect- 
]j  fitting  uniform,  and  that  he  is  never  ont  of  date. 

The  general  and  I  went  into  the  hotel  and  took  a 
room  for  the  night  of  the  ball.  Such  good-humor,  con- 
fusion, and  jolly  preparations  as  we  had,  for  the  young 
officers  came  to  borrow  the  corner  of  our  glass  to  put 
on  the  finishing  touches,  carrying  their  neckties,  studs, 
sleeve-buttons,  and  gloves  in  their  hands.  The  aigret 
had  been  taken  from  the  helmet  and  placed  across  their 
broad  chests,  brightening  still  more  their  shining  new 
nniforms.  I  remember  with  what  ])ride  the  "plebs" 
called  our  attention  to  the  double  row  of  buttons  which 
the  change  in  the  nniforni  now  gave  to  all,  without 
regard  to  rank.  The  lieutenants  had  heretofore  only 
been  allowed  one  row  of  buttons,  and  they  declared  that 
an  Apollo  even  could  not  do  justice  to  his  figure  with  a 
coat  fastened  in  so  monotonous  and  straight  up-and-down 
a  manner. 

Yankton,  like  all  new  towns,  was  chiefly  settled  with 
newly  -  married  people,  who  ornamented  their  bits  of 
front  yards  with  shining  new  perambulators.  The 
mothers  had  little  afternoon  parades,  proud  enough  to 
trundle  their  own  babies.  If  any  one's  father  ever 
came  from  the  States  to  a  Western  town,  we  all  felt  at 
liberty  to  welcome  his  gray  hairs.  There  were  but  few 
young  girls,  hut  that  night  must  have  been  a  memora- 
ble one  for  them.  All  the  town,  and  even  the  country 
people,  came  to  the  ball.  The  mayor  and  common 
council  received  us,  and  the  governor  opened  the  fes- 
tivities. We  crossed  to  the  hotel  to  our  supper.  We 
were  asked  to  sit  down  to  the  table,  and  the  abundance 


33  *  BOOTS  AXD  SADDLES. 

of  substantials  proved  that  our  hosts  did  not  expect 
us  to  nibble.  The  general  was,  of  course,  taken  pos- 
session of  bj  the  city  fathers  and  mothers.  Finding 
among  them  a  woman  he  knew  I  would  appreciate,  he 
placed  me  beside  her  at  snpper.  I  had  but  little  time 
to  eat,  for  she  was  not  only  clever  and  brave,  but 
very  interesting  in  her  description  of  the  dangers  and 
liardsliips  she  had  endured  during  the  ten  years  of 
her  pioneering.  Tlie  railroad  had  been  completed 
but  a  short  time,  and  before  that  the  life  was  wild 
enough.  She  sat  quietly  among  these  people  in  her 
simple  stuff  gown,  honored  and  looked  up  to.  Though 
not  even  elderly,  she  was  still  almost  the  oldest  citizen 
and  au  authority  in  the  history  of  the  country.  All 
classes  and  conditions  came  to  the  ball,  for  Yankton 
was  not  yet  large  enough  to  be  divided  into  cliques; 
besides,  the  rough  and  hazardous  life  these  people  had 
shared  endeared  them  to  one  another. 

The  da^'s  after  this  passed  very  rapidly.  The  officers 
were  already  getting  the  command  into  condition  to 
begin  the  long  march  of  five  hundred  miles  that  lay  be- 
fore us.  Before  we  left,  the  general,  desiring  to  return 
some  of  the  civilities  of  the  citizens,  gave  the  governor 
and  his  staff  a  review.  The  wide  plain  on  which  our 
camp  was  located  was  admirably  adapted  to  the  display 
of  troops.  j\Iy  heart  swelled  with  pride  to  see  our 
grand  regiment  all  together  once  more  and  in  such  fine 
condition.  When  the  review  was  closing,  and  that  part 
came  where  the  otficers  leave  their  companies  and,  join- 
ing, ride  abreast  to  salute  the  commanding  officer,  the 
general  could  hardly  maintain  the  stereotyped,  motion- 


Vv'ESTERX   HOSPITALITY.  33 

less  quiet  of  the  soldier — the  approach  of  tliis  fine  body 
of  men  made  him  so  proud  of  his  comtnand. 

All  were  well  mounted  ;  the  two  j-ears'  station  in  tlie 
South  liad  given  them  rare  opportunities  to  purchase 
horses.  The  general,  being  considered  an  excellent 
judge,  had,  at  the  request  of  the  officers,  bought  several 
from  the  stables  of  his  Kentucky  friends.  He  told  me 
that  if  a  colt  failed  a  quarter  of  a  second  in  making 
certain  time  expected,  the  owner  was  disappointed  and 
willine:  to  sell  him  at  a  merelv  nominal  sum.  So  it 
came  about  that  even  the  lieutenants,  with  their  meagre 
pay,  owned  horses  whose  pedigree  was  unending.  There 
were  three  officers  belonging  to  each  of  the  twelve  com- 
panies ;  some  were  detailed  on  duty  elsewhere,  but 
those  remaining,  with  the  adjutant,  surgeon,  quarter- 
master, and  commissary,  made  a  long  line  of  brilliantly 
caparisoned  and  magnificently  formed  men  mounted  on 
blood-horses.  Xo  wonder  that  the  moment  they  saluted 
the  general,  he  jumped  from  the  saddle  to  congratulate 
them,  and  show  them  his  pride  in  their  soldierly  ap- 
pearance. 

The  governor  and  his  staff  were  not  chary  in  their 
expressions  of  admiration.  It  was  a  great  event  in  the 
lives  of  the  citizens,  and  the  wholo  town  was  present. 
Every  sort  of  vehicle  used  on  the  frontier  came  out, 
filled  to  overflowing,  and  many  persons  walked.  The 
music  of  the  band,  the  sun  lighting  up  the  polished 
steel  of  the  arms  and  equipments,  the  hundreds  of 
spirited  horses  going  through  the  variety  of  evolutions 
which  belong  to  a  mounted  regiment,  made  a  memora- 
ble scene  for  these  isolated  people.     Besides,  they  felt 

9* 


34  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 

the  sensation  of  possession  wlien  tliey  knew  tliat  these 
troops  liad  come  to  open  the  country  and  ])rotect  those 
more  adventnrous  spirits  wlio  were  already  finding  that 
a  place  into  which  the  railroad  ran  was  too  far  East  for 
them. 

One  day  we  were  all  invited  to  take  luncheon  on 
board  the  stean)er  that  had  been  chartered  to  take  the 
regimental  property  up  the  river  to  Bismarck..  Tlic 
owner  of  the  boat  was  very  hospitable,  and  champagne 
flowed  freely  as  he  proposed  old-fashioned  toasts.  The 
officers  and  ladies  of  tlie  regiment  received  with  pleas- 
ure all  this  politeness,  and  since  these  occasions  were 
rare  in  the  lives  of  those  of  us  who  lived  always  on  the 
outskirts  of  civilization,  we  were  reluctant  to  go  home. 
My  horse  had  been  sent  away  by  some  mistake,  and  the 
general  accepted  the  offer  of  the  host  to  drive  me  out 
to  camp,  he  ridii'g  for  a  time  beside  the  can-iage,  and 
then,  with  his  usual  restlessness,  giving  rein  to  his  horse 
for  a  brisk  gallop.  It  was  not  long  before  I  discovered 
that  the  uncertain  swaying  of  the  vehicle  from  side  to 
side,  and  the  hazaixlous  manner  in  which  we  skirted  the 
deep  gullies,  was  due  to  the  fact  that  our  friend  was 
overcome  with  liospitality. 

Trying  to  talk  in.telligently,  and  to  aT>pear  not  to  no- 
tice the  vagaries  of  the  driver,  and  at  the  same  time  to 
control  my  wandering  eyes  as  they  espied  from  afar  a 
dangerous  bit  of  road,  I  spent  a  very  uncomfortable 
hour.  Fortunately  the  "  dear  Polly  "  was  most  demure 
in  harness,  and  possibly  having  been  left  before  that  to 
find  her  own  way  under  similar  circumstances,  she  did 
not  attempt  to  leap  with  the  carriage  over  ditches,  as 


WESTERN   HOSPITALITY.  35 

lier  gay  o'^ner  invited  her  to  do.  When  we  came  up 
within  shouting  distance  of  tlie  general,  I  cried  out,  in 
what  I  meant  to  seem  like  playful  menace  ;  but  he  had 
taken  in  the  situation,  and  seeing  that  Polly  was  to  be 
trusted,  he  mischievously  laughed  back  at  me  and  flew 
over  the  country.  Finally  we  neared  our  little  cal'in, 
and  my  last  fear  came  upon  me.  Mary  had  spread  the 
clothes-line  far  and  wide;  it  was  at  the  rear  of  the 
house,  but  my  escort  saw  no  door,  and  Polly  soon  wound 
us  hopelessly  up  in  the  line  and  two  weeks'  washing, 
while  she  quietly  tried  to  kick  her  way  through  the 
packing-boxes  and  wood-piles !  Mary  and  Ilam  extri- 
cated me,  and  started  the  old  nag  on  the  road  home- 
ward, and  I  waved  a  relieved  good-bye  to  the  retreating 
carriage. 

Only  such  impossible  wives  as  one  reads  of  in  Sun- 
day-school books  would  have  lost  the  opportunity  for 
a  few  wrathful  words.  I  was  not  dangerous,  though, 
and  the  peals  of  laughter  from  my  husband,  as  he  de- 
scribed my  wild  eyes  peering  out  from  the  side  of  the 
carriage,  soon  put  me  into  a  good-humor.  Kext  day  I 
was  called  to  the  steps,  and  found  that  Polly's  owner 
had  discovered  that  we  had  a  dooi-.  He  said  an  off-hand 
"How  d'ye?"  and  ])rescnted  a  peace -offering,  adding, 
"My  wife  tells  me  that  I  was  hardly  in  a  condition  to 
deliver  a  temperance  lecture  yesterda}'.  As  what  she 
says  is  always  true,  I  bring  my  apologies."  Ham  car- 
ried in  the  hamper,  and  though  I  urged  our  guest 
to  remain,  ho  did  not  seem  quite  at  ease  and  drove 
away. 

"While  we  were  at  Yankton,  something  happened  that 


36  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

filled  lis  with  wonder.  The  Indians  from  the  reserva- 
tion near  brought  in  reports  that  came  through  other 
tribes  of  the  Modoc  disasters.  It  was  a  marvel  to  the 
general  to  find  that  at  that  distance  north  news  could 
come  to  us  through  Indian  runners  in  advance  of  that 
we  received  by  the  telegraph. 


CAVALKY   ON   THE   MARCH.  87 


CHAPTER    IV. 

CAVALRY   ON   TUE   MAKCH. 

When  the  daj  came  for  ns  to  begin  onr  march,  the 
sun  shone  and  the  towns -people  wished  us  good -luck 
with  their  good-bye. 

The  length  of  each  day's  march  varied  according  to 
the  streams  on  which  we  relied  for  water,  or  the  arrival 
of  the  boat.  The  steamer  that  carried  the  forage  for  the 
horses  and  the  supplies  for  the  command  was  tied  up  to 
the  river-bank  every  niglit,  as  near  to  us  as  was  possible. 
The  laundresses  and  ladies  of  the  regiment  were  on 
board,  except  the  general's  sister,  Margaret,  who  made 
her  first  march  with  her  husband,  riding  all  the  way  on 
horseback.  As  usual,  I  rode  beside  the  general.  Our 
first  few  days  were  pleasant,  and  we  began  at  once  to 
enjoy  the  plover.  The  land  was  so  covered  with  them 
that  the  hunters  shot  them  with  all  sorts  of  arms.  We 
counted  eighty  birds  in  the  gunny-sack  that  three  of  the 
soldiers  brought  in.  Fortunately  there  were  several 
shot-guns  in  the  possession  of  our  family,  and  the  little 
things,  therefore,  were  not  torn  to  pieces,  but  could  be 
broiled  over  the  coals  of  the  camp-fire.  They  were  so 
plump  that  their  legs  were  like  tiny  points  coming  from 
beneath  the  rounded  outline  that  swept  the  grass  as  they 
walked.     No  butter  was  needed  in  cooking  them,  for 


38  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

tbey  were  very  fat.  Some  of  the  oflieers  had  not  left 
behind  tliem  all  of  their  epicurean  tastes,  and  preferred 
to  have  the  birds  cooked  M'hen  thej  were  decidedly 
"gamy,"  In  this  way  they  secured  the  privilege  of 
taking  their  odoriferous  luncheon  quite  apart  from  the 
others.  The  general  had  invited  two  officers  besides  his 
brother  Tom,  and  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Calhoun,  to 
mess  with  him,  A7e  had  a  tableful,  and  veiy  merry  we 
were,  even  in  the  early  morning.  To  joke  before  day- 
light seems  impossible,  but  even  at  breakfast  peals  of 
laughter  went  up  from  the  diniiig-tent. 

One  of  the  officers  was  envied,  and  we  declared  he 
got  more  to  eat  than  the  rest,  because  he  insisted  upon 
"carving  the  hash ;''  while  to  cut  meat  for  all  our  hun- 
gry circle,  as  the  general  did  at  the  other  end  of  the 
table,  took  many  precious  moments.  One  of  our  numbei- 
called  us  the  "Great  Grab  Mess,"  and  some  one  slyly 
printed  the  words  in  large  bhick  letters  on  the  canvas 
that  covered  the  luncheon-hamper,  which  was  usually 
strapped  at  the  back  of  onr  ti-avelling-carriage.  How 
gladly  we  gathered  about  that  haujpcr  when  the  com- 
mand halted  at  noon  !  How  good  the  plover  and  sand- 
wiches tasted,  while  we  quenched  our  thirst  with  cold 
coffee  or  tea  !  Since  we  were  named  as  we  were,  Ave  all 
dared  to  reach  over  and  help  ourselves,  and  the  one 
most  agile  and  with  the  longest  arms  was  the  best  fed. 

ISo  great  ceremony  is  to  be  expected  when  one  rises 
before  four,  and  takes  a  hurried  breakfast  by  the  light 
of  a  tallow-candle  ;  the  soldiers  waiting  outside  to  take 
down  the  tent,  the  servants  hastily  and  suggestively 
rattling  the  kettles  and  gridiron  as  they  packed  them, 


CAVALRY   OX   THE   MAKCII.  S9 

made  it  an  irresistible  temptation  for  one  iuiugry  to 
"  grab." 

We  had  a  very  satisfactory  little  cook-stove.  It 
began  its  career  v/itli  legs,  but  the  wind  used  to  lift  it 
up  from  the  ground  with  such  violence  it  was  finally 
dismembered,  and  afterwards  placed  flat  on  the  ground. 
Being  of  sheet-iron  it  cooled  quickly,  was  very  light, 
and  could  be  put  in  the  wagon  in  a  few  moments  after 
the  morning  meal  Avas  cooked.  When  we  came  out 
from  breakfast  the  wagon  stood  near,  partly  packed, 
and  bristling  with  kitchen  utensils  ;  buckets  and  baskets 
tied  outside  the  cover,  axe  and  spade  lashed  to  the  side, 
while  the  little  stove  looked  out  from  the  end.  The 
mess- chest  stood  open  on  the  ground  to  receive  the 
dishes  we  had  used.  At  a  given  signal  the  dining-tent 
went  down  with  all  those  along  the  line,  and  they  wei'e 
stowed  away  in  the  wagons  in  an  incredibly  short  time. 
The  wagon-train  then  drew  out  and  formed  in  order  at 
the  rear  of  tlie  colnmu. 

At  the  bugle-call,  "  boots  and  saddles,"  each  soldier 
mounted  and  took  his  place  in  line,  all  riding  two  abreast. 
First  came  the  general  and  his  staff,  with  M'hom  sister 
Margaret  and  I  were  })ermitted  to  ride;  the  private 
orderlies  and  headqnartei's  detail  rode  in  our  rear;  and 
then  came  tlie  companies  according  to  the  places  as- 
signed them  for  the  day  ;  finally  the  wagon-train,  with 
the  rear-guard.  AVe  made  a  long  drawn-out  cavalcade 
that  stretched  over  a  great  distance.  When  we  reached 
some  high  bluff,  we  never  tired  of  watching  the  com- 
mand advancing,  with  the  long  line  of  supply  wagons, 
with  their  white  covers,  winding  ai'onnd  l>ends  in  the 


40  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

road  and  climbing  over  the  lulls.  Every  day  the  break' 
ing  of  camp  went  more  smoothly  and  qnicklj',  nntil,  as 
the  days  advanced,  the  general  nsed  to  call  me  to  his 
side  to  notice  by  his  Avatch  how  few  moments  it  took 
after  the  tents  were  ordered  down  to  set  the  whole  ma- 
chinery for  the  march  in  motion  ;  and  I  remember  the 
regiment  grew  so  skilful  in  preparation  that  in  one  cam- 
paign the  hour  for  starting  never  varied  five  minutes 
during  tlie  whole  summer. 

The  column  was  always  halted  once  during  the  day's 
march  to  water  the  horses,  then  the  luncheons  were 
brought  forth.  They  varied  decidedly;  sometimes  an 
officer  took  from  his  pocket  a  hard  biscuit  wrapped  in 
his  handkerchief ;  the  faithful  orderly  of  another  took 
his  chief's  sandwiches  from  his  own  haversack  and 
Ijronght  them  to  him,  wherever  he  was.  Often  a  prov- 
ident officer,  as  he  seated  himself  to  his  little  "spread" 
on  the  grass,  was  instantly  surrounded  by  interested 
visitors,  who,  heedless  ever  of  any  future,  believed  that 
the  world  owed  them  a  living  and  they  were  resolved  to 
have  it. 

When  the  stream  was  narrow,  and  the  hundreds  of 
liorses  had  to  be  ranged  along  its  banks  to  be  watered, 
there  was  time  for  a  nap.  I  soon  acquired  the  general's 
habit  of  sleeping  readily.  lie  vrould  throw  himself 
down  anywhere  and  fall  asleep  instantly,  even  with  the 
sun  beating  on  his  head.  It  only  takes  a  little  training 
to  learn  to  sleep  without  a  pillow  on  uneven  ground  and 
without  shade.  I  learned,  the  moment  I  was  helped 
out  of  the  saddle,  to  drop  upon  the  grass  and  lose  myself 
in  a  twinkling.     No  one  knows  what  a  privilege  it  is  to 


CAVALRY   ON   THE   MAIlCil.  41 

be  stretched  out  after  being  cramped  over  tlie  horn  of  a 
lady's  saddle  for  hours,  until  she  has  experienced  it.  I 
think  I  never  got  quite  over  wishing  for  the  shade  of  a 
tree;  but  tliere  v\'as  often  a  little  strip  of  shadow  on  one 
side  of  the  travelling  wagon,  which  was  always  near  us 
on  the  journe3\  I  was  not  above  seltishly  appropriating 
the  space  under  the  wagon,  if  it  had  not  been  taken  by 
somebody  else.  Even  then  I  had  to  dislodge  a  whole 
collection  of  dogs,  who  soon  find  the  best  places  for 
their  comfort. 

AVe  had  a  citizen-guide  with  us,  who,  having  been 
long  in  tlie  country,  knew  the  streams,  and  the  general 
and  I,  following  his  instructions,  often  rode  in  advance 
as  we  neared  the  niglit's  camp.  It  was  always  a  mild 
excitement  and  new  pleasure  to  select  camp.  The  men 
who  carried  the  guidons  for  each  company  were  sent 
for,  and  places  assigned  them.  The  general  delighted 
to  unsaddle  his  favorite  horse.  Dandy,  and  turn  him 
loose,  for  his  attachment  was  so  strong  he  never  grazed 
far  from  us.  lie  was  not  even  tethered,  and  after  giv- 
ing himself  the  luxury  of  a  roll  in  the  grass,  he  ate  his 
dinner  of  oats,  and  browsed  about  the  tent,  as  tame  as  a 
kitten.  lie  whinnied  when  my  husband  patted  his  sleek 
neck,  and  looked  jealously  at  the  dogs  when  they  all 
followed  us  into  the  tent  afterwards. 

After  tramping  down  the  grass,  to  prevent  the  fire 
from  spreading,  my  husband  would  carry  dry  sticks  and 
underbrush,  and  place  them  against  a  fallen  tree.  That 
made  an  admirable  back-log,  and  in  a  little  while  we 
had  a  glorious  fire,  the  general  having  a  peculiar  gift 
of  startiiiir  a  flame  on  the  wildest  dav.     The  next  thine: 


43  •        BOOTS  AND  SADDLES- 

was  to  tlirow  liimself  clown  on  the  sod,  cover  his  eyes 
with  his  white  felt  liat,  and  be  sound  asleep  in  no  time. 
No  matter  if  the  sun  beat  down  in  a  perfect  blaze,  it 
never  disturbed  him.  The  dogs  came  at  once  to  lie  be- 
side him.  I  have  seen  them  stretched  at  his  back  and 
curled  around  his  head,  while  the  nose  and  paws  of  one 
rested  on  his  breast.  And  yet  lie  was  quite  unconscious 
of  tlieir  crowding.  They  growled  and  scrambled  for 
the  best  place,  but  ho  slept  placidly  through  it  all. 

When  the  command  arrived,  the  guidons  pointed  out 
the  location  for  each  company ;  the  horses  were  unsad- 
dled and  picketed  out ;  the  wagons  unloaded  and  the 
tents  pitched.  The  hewing  of  wood  and  the  hauling 
of  water  canie  next,  and  after  the  cook- fires  were 
lighted,  the  air  was  full  of  savory  odors  of  the  soldiers' 
dinner.  Sometimes  the  ground  admitted  of  pitching 
the  tents  of  the  whole  regiment  in  two  long  lines  fac- 
ing each  other;  the  wagons  were  drawn  up  at  either 
end,  and  also  at  the  rear  of  the  two  rows  of  tents; 
they  were  placed  diagonally,  one  end  overlapping  the 
other,  so  as  to  form  a  barricade  against  the  attack  of 
Indians.  Down  the  centre  of  the  company  street  large 
ropes  were  stretched,  to  Avhicli  the  horses  were  tied  at 
night;  our  tents  were  usually  a  little  apart  from  the 
rest,  at  one  end  of  the  company  street,  and  it  never 
grew  to  be  an  old  story  to  M'atch  the  camp  before  us. 
After  I  had  changed  my  riding-habit  for  my  one  other 
gown,  I  came  out  to  join  the  general  under  the  tent-ily, 
where  he  Jay  alternately  watching  the  scene  and  read- 
ing one  of  the  well-thumbed  books  that  he  was  never 
without.     I  always  had  sewing — either  a  bit  of  needle- 


CAVALRY   OX   THE   MARCH.  43 

work  that  was  destined  to  make  our  garrison  quarters 
more  attractive,  or  more  often  some  necessary  stitches 
to  take  in  our  hard-worn  clothes.  As  we  sat  there  it 
would  have  been  difficult  for  a  stranger  seeing  us  to 
believe  that  it  was  merely  the  home  of  a  day. 

Our  camps  along  the  river  were  much  alike,  and 
each  day  when  we  entered  the  tent  our  few  things 
were  placed  exactly  as  the}^  were  the  day  before.  The 
only  articles  of  furniture  we  had  with  ns  were  two  fold- 
ing-chairs, a  bed,  a  wash-bowl,  with  bucket  and  tin  dip- 
per, and  a  little  mirror.  This  last,  fastened  to  the  tent- 
pole,  swayed  to  and  fro  with  the  never-ceasing  wind,  and 
made  it  a  superfluous  luxury,  for  we  learned  to  dress 
Avithout  it.  The  camp-chairs  were  a  great  comfort: 
they  were  made  by  a  soldier  out  of  oak,  with  leather 
back,  seat  and  arms,  the  latter  so  arranged  with  straps 
and  buckles  that  one  could  recline  or  sit  upright  at 
will.  I  once  made  a  long  march  and  only  took  a  camp- 
stool  for  a  seat ;  I  knew  therefore  v»-hat  an  untold  bless- 
ine:  it  was  to  have  a  chair  in  which  to  lean,  after  having 
been  sitting  in  the  saddle  for  hours. 

We  had  tried  many  inventions  for  cot-beds  that  fold- 
ed, but  nothing  stood  tlie  wear  and  tear  of  travel  like 
the  simple  contrivance  of  two  carpenter's  horses  placed 
at  the  right  distance  apart,  with  three  boards  laid  upon 
them.  Such  a  bed  was  most  easily  transported,  for  the 
supports  could  be  tied  to  the  outside  of  the  wagon, 
while  the  boards  slipped  inside  before  the  rest  of  the 
camp  equipage  was  packed. 

An  ineffaceable  picture  remair.s  with  me  even  now  of 
those  lovely  camps,  as  we  dreamily   watched  them   l>y 


44  BOOTS  AXD  SADDLES. 

the  fading  light  of  the  afternoon.  The  general  and  I 
used  to  think  tliere  was  no  hit  of  color  equal  to  the  del- 
icate hlue  line  of  smoke  which  rose  from  the  camp-lire, 
where  tlie  soldiers'  suppers  were  heing  cooked.  Tlie 
effect  of  light  and  shade,  and  the  varying  tints  of  that 
perfect  &\^y,  were  a  great  delight  to  him.  The  mellow 
air  brought  us  sounds  that  had  become  dear  by  long 
and  happy  association — tlie  low  notes  of  the  bugle  in 
the  hands  of  the  musician  practising  the  calls ;  the 
click  of  the  currycomb  as  the  soldiers  groomed  their 
horses ;  the  wdiistle  or  song  of  a  happy  trooper.  And 
even  the  irrepressible  accordeon  at  that  distance  made 
a  melod}'.  It  used  to  amuse  us  to  find  with  what  per- 
sistent ingenuity  the  soldiers  smuggled  that  melancholy 
instrument.  ISTo  matter  how  limited  the  transporta- 
tion, after  a  few  days'  march  it  was  brought  out  from 
a  roll  of  blankets,  or  the  teamster  who  had  been 
bribed  to  keep  it  under  the  seat,  produced  the  prized 
possession.  The  bay  of  the  hounds  was  always  music 
to  the  general.  ■  The  bray  of  the  mules  could  not  be 
included  under  that  head  but  it  was  one  of  those 
'•'  sounds  from  home "  to  M'hich  we  had  become  at- 
tached. Mingling  with  the  melodies  of  the  negro  serv- 
ants, as  they  swung  the  blacking -brushes  at  the  rear 
of  the  tents,  were  the  buoyant  voices  of  the  officers  ly- 
ing under  the  tent-flies,  smoking  the  consoling  pipe. 

The  twilight  almost  alwa^'s  found  many  of  us  gath- 
ered together,  some  idling  on  the  grass  in  front  of  tlie 
camp-fire,  or  lounging  on  the  buffalo  robes.  The  one 
with  the  best  voice  sang,  while  all  joined  in  the  chorus. 

We  all  liad  much  patience  in  listening  to  what  must 


CAVALRY    OX  TilE   MARCH.  45 

necessarily  be  "twice-told  tales,"  for  it  would  have  taken 
the  author  of  "The  Arabian  Nights"  to  supply  fresh 
anecdotes  for  people  who  had  been  so  many  years  to- 
gether. These  stories  usually  varied  somewhat  from 
time  to  time,  and  the  more  Munchausen-likc  they  be- 
came the  more  attentive  v/as  the  audience. 

The  territories  are  settled  by  people  who  live  an  in- 
tense, exaggerated  sort  of  existence,  and  nothing  tame 
attracts  them.  In  order  to  compel  a  lis'tener,  I  myself 
fell  into  the  habit  of  adding  a  cipher  or  two  to  stories 
that  Lad  been  first  told  in  the  States  with  moderate 
numbers.  If  the  fan)ily  overheard  me,  their  nnquoicli- 
able  spirit  of  mischief  invariabl}^  put  a  quietus  on  my 
eloquence.  In  fact  I  was  soon  cured  of  temptation  to 
amplify,  by  the  repeated  asides  of  my  deriding  famil}^, 
"  Oh,  I  say,  old  lady,  won't  you  come  down  a  hundred 
or  twof  Sometimes,  when  wo  were  all  gathered  to- 
gether at  evening,  we  improved  the  privilege  wliicli 
belongs  to  long-established  friendships  of  keeping  si- 
lent. The  men  yielded  to  the  soporific  influence  of 
tobacco,  in  quiet  content,  knowing  that  nothing  was 
expected  of  them  if  they  chose  not  to  talk.  My  hus- 
band and  I  sometimes  strolled  through  the  camp  at 
twilight,  and  even  went  among  the  citizen  teamsters 
that  are  employed  for  the  march,  when  they  were  pre- 
paring their  evening  meal. 

These  teamsters  mess  together  on  the  march  as  the 
officers  do,  with  rarely  more  than  four  or  five  in  the  cir- 
cle. One  of  the  number  buys  the  supplies,  takes  charge 
of  the  rations,  and  keeps  the  accounts.  The  sum  of 
expenses  is  divided  at  the  end  of  the  month,  and  each 


i&  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

pays  his  portion.  They  take  tnrns  in  doins^  the  cook- 
ing, which,  being  necessarily  simple,  each  can  bear  a 
share  of  the  labor.  Sometimes  \vq  found  a  more  ambi- 
tious member  of  the  mess  endeavoring  to  rise  superior 
to  the  tiresome  hard-tack;  he  had  bared  his  brawny  arms 
and  was  mixing  biscuit  on  the  tail-board  of  the  wagon,  let 
down  for  the  purpose.  He  v.diistled  away  as  he  mould- 
ed the  dough  with  his  horny  hands,  and  it  would  have 
seemed  that  he  had  a  Dehnonico  supper  to  anticii)ate. 

We  had  not  left  Yankton  far  behind  us  before  we 
were  surprised  to  see  one  of  its  most  hospitable  citizens 
drive  up;  he  acknowledged  that  he  had  missed  us,  and 
described  the  tameness  of  life  after  the  departure  of  the 
cavalry  as  something  quite  past  endurance.  V/e  vrcre 
so  stupid  as  not  to  discover,  until  after  he  had  said  the 
second  good-bye,  that  he  really  wanted  to  join  us  on  the 
march ;  still,  had  he  kept  on,  I  am  sure  his  endurance 
would  have  been  tested,  for  whib  I  do  not  remember 
ever  to  have  been  discouraged  before  in  all  our  cam- 
paigning, I  was  so  during  the  storm  that  followed.  The 
weather  suddenly  changed,  and  we  began  our  inarch 
with  a  dull,  gray  morning  and  stinging  cold.  The  gen- 
eral wound  me  up  in  all  the  outside  wraps  I  had  until 
I  was  a  shapeless  mass  of  fur  and  wool  as  I  sat  in  the 
saddle.  We  could  talk  but  little  to  each  other,  for  the 
wind  cut  our  faces  and  stiffened  the  flesh  until  it  ached. 
My  hands  became  too  numb  to  hold  my  hoi'se,  so  I  gave 
him  his  own  M'ay.  As  \vc  rode  along  like  automatons, 
I  was  keeping  my  spirits  up  with  the  thought  of  the 
3amp  we  would  make  in  the  underbrush  of  a  sheltered 
valley  by  some  stream,  and  the  coming  camp-fire  I'ose 


CAVALRY   OX   THE   MArtGII.  47 

briorlitlv^  in  mv  imao-ination.  Wo  went  slowly  as  the 
usual  time  <a  cavalry  command  makes  is  barelj  four 
miles  an  hour.  It  was  a  discouraging  spot  where  we 
iinallj  halted ;  it  was  on  a  stream,  but  the  ice  was  thick 
along  the  edges,  and  all  we  could  see  was  the  opposite 
bank,  about  thirty  feet  high,  so  frozen  over  that  it  looked 
like  a  wall  of  solid  ice.  It  was  difficult  to  pitch  the  tent^ 
for  the  wind  twisted  and  tore  the  canvas;  the  ground 
was  already  so  frozen  that  it  took  a  long  time  to  drive 
in  the  iron  pins  by  Vvdiich  the  ropes  holding  the  tents 
are  secured.  All  the  tying  and  pinning  of  the  opening- 
was  of  little  avail,  for  the  wind  twisted  oil  the  tapes 
and  flung  tlie  great  brass  pins  I  had  brought  on  purpose 
for  canvas  far  and  wide. 

No  camp-fire  would  burn,  of  coui'se,  in  such  a  gale, 
but  I  remembered  thankfully  the  Sibley  stove  that  we 
always  carried.  The  saddler  had  cut  a  hole  in  the  roof 
of  the  tent  for  the  pipe,  and  fastened  zinc  around  it  to 
make  it  safe  from  fire.  I  shall  never  think  about  a  Sib- 
ley stove  without  gratitude,  nor  cease  to  wonder  how  so 
simple  an  invention  can  be  the  means  of  such  comfort. 
It  is  only  a  cone  of  sheet-iron,  open  at  the  top  and  bot- 
tom ;  the  broader  part  rests  on  the  ground,  while  the 
little  pipe  fits  on  the  top.  The  wood  is  put  through  a 
door  cut  in  the  side;  only  billets  can  be  used,  for  the 
aperture  is  of  course  small.  It  rerpiires  almost  constant 
attention  to  keep  the  insatiable  little  thing  tilled,  but 
it  never  occurs  to  one,  where  half  a  dozen  are  huddled 
together,  to  ask  who  shall  be  the  fireman,  and  there  is 
equal  division  of  labor.  The  stove  is  so  light  that,  in 
marching,  the  pipe  is  removed  and  a  rope  I'un  through 


48  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

the  openings,  Avliicli  enables  it  to  be  tied  nnderneatli 
the  wagon,  beside  the  bucket  which  is  alwnj^s  suspended 
there  to  be  used  to  water  the  horses. 

The  general  was  busy  in  the  adjutant's  tent,  so  I  sent 
for  the  sergeant,  who  was  our  factotum,  and  asked  him 
to  hunt  np  the  Sibley  stove.  I  felt  disheartened  when 
he  told  nie  it  had  been  forgotten. "'■■  I  could  has'e  gone 
to  the  next  tent  where  a  provident  officer  had  pnt  his 
np,  but  I  felt  in  too  disagreeable  a  humor  to  inflict  my- 
self on  any  one,  and  so  crept  into  bed  to  keep  warm. 
It  was  an  unmistakable  fit  of  sulks,  and  I  M'as  in  the 
valley  of  humiliation  next  morning,  for  I  knew 'well 
how  difficult  it  is  to  have  ladies  on  the  march,  and  how 
many  obstacles  the  general  liad  surmounted  to  arrange 
for  my  coming.  My  part  consisted  in. drilling  myself 
to  be  as  little  trouble  as  I  could.  I  had  really  learned, 
by  man}'  a  self-inflicted  lesson,  never  to  be  too  cold  or  too 
hot,  and  rarely  allowed  a  thought  of  hunger  if  we  were 
where  no  suj')plie3  could  be  had.  It  was  a  long  struggle, 
but  I  finally  learned  never  to  drink  between  meals,  as  it 
is  always  difficult  to  get  water  on  a  march.  I  can  re- 
member being  even  mortifledat  dropping  m_y  whip,  for 
I  wished  to  be  so  little  trouble  that  every  one  would  be 
unconscious  of  my  presence,  so  far  as  being  an  incon- 
venience was  concerned.  The  cold  of  Dakota  overcame 
me  on  that  one  day,  but  it  was  the  last  time  I  succumbed 
to  it. 


*  It  was  afterwards  recovered. 


CAMPING  AMONG   TUE   SIOUX.  49 


CHAPTER  V. 

CAMPING   AMONG   THE   SIOUX. 

Our  marcli  took  us  tlirongli  the  grounds  set  apart  bj 
the  Government  for  the  use  of  the  Sioux  Indians  at 
peace  with  our  country.  We  liad  not  made  much  prog- 
ress before  we  began  to  see  their  graves.  They  do  not 
bury  their  dead,  but  place  them  on  boards  lashed  to  the 
limbs  of  trees,  or  on  high  platforms  raised  from  the 
ground  by  four  poles  perhaps  twenty  feet.  The  body 
is  wound  round  and  round  with  clothing  or  blankets, 
like  a  mummy,  and  inside  the  layers  are  placed  fire- 
arms, tobacco,  and  jerked  beef,  to  supply  them  on  the 
imaginary  journey  to  the  happy  hunting-grounds.  In 
the  early  morning,  when  it  was  not  quite  light,  as  we 
filed  by  these  solitary  sepulchres,  it  was. uncanny  and 
weird,  and  the  sun,  when  it  came,  was  doubly  welcome. 
Our  first  visitor  from  Agency  Indians  was  Fool-dog,  a 
*^ioux  chief.  He  was  tall,  commanding,  and  had  really 
a  fine  face.  When  he  was  ready  to  go  home  he  invited 
us  to  come  to  his  village  before  we  left  on  our  next 
march.  At  twilight  my  husband  and  I  walked  over. 
The  village  was  a  collection  of  tepees  of  all  sizes,  the 
largest  being  what  is  called  the  Medicine  Lodge,  where 
the  councils  arc  held.  It  was  formed  of  tanned  buf- 
falo-hides,  sewed  together  with  buckskin  thongs,  and 

3 


50  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

stretched  over  a  collection  of  thirty-six  poles.  These 
poles  are  of  great  value  to  the  Indians,  for  in  a  sparsely 
timbered  country  like  Dakota  it  is  difficult  to  find  suit- 
able trees.  It  is  necessary  to  go  a  great  distance  to  pro- 
cure the  kind  of  sapling  tliat  is  light  and  pliable  and 
yet  sufHciently  strong  for  the  purpose.  The  poles  are 
lashed  together  at  the  tops  and  radiate  in  a  circle  below. 
The  smoke  was  pouring  out  of  the  opening  above,  and 
the  only  entrance  to  the  tepee  was  a  round  aperture 
near  the  ground,  sufficiently  large  to  allow  a  person  to 
crawl  in.  Around  the  lodge  were  poles  from  which 
were  suspended  rags ;  in  these  were  tied  their  medi- 
cines of  roots  and  herbs,  supposed  to  be  a  charm  to  keep 
off  evil  spirits.  The  sound  of  music  came  from  within; 
I  crept  tremblingly  in  after  the  general,  not  entirely 
quieted  by  his  keeping  my  hand  in  his,  and  whispering 
something  to  calm  my  fears  as  I  sat  on  the  buffalo  robe 
beside  him.  In  the  first  place,  I  knew  how  resolute  the 
Indians  were  in  never  admitting  one  of  their  own  wom- 
en to  council,  and  their  curious  eyes  and  forbidding  ex- 
pressions towards  me  did  not  add  to  my  comfort.  The 
dust,  smoke,  and  noise  in  the  fading  light  were  not  re- 
assuring. 'Fool-dog  arose  from  the  circle  of  what  com- 
posed their  nobility,  and  solemnly  shook  hands  with  the 
general ;  those  next  in  rank  followed  his  example. 
The  pipe  was  then  smoked,  and  the  general  bad  to  take 
a  whiff  when  it  came  his  turn.  Fortunately  we  escaped 
the  speeches,  for  we  had  not  brought  an  interpreter. 

Coming  out  of  the  light  into  this  semi-darkness,  with 
the  grotesque  figures  of  the  plebeians,  as  they  danced 
around  their  chiefs  and  contorted  their  bodies  to  the 


CAMPING   AMONG  THE   SIOUX.  51 

sound  of  the  Indian  drum  and  minor  notes  of  the 
singers,  made  it  something  unearthly  in  appearance  ; 
their  painted  faces,  grunts  and  grins  of  serious  mirth 
as  they  wheeled  around  tlie  tepee,  made  me  shiver.  How 
relieved  I  felt  when  the  final  pipe  was  smoked  and  the 
good-bye  said !  The  curious  eyes  of  the  squaws,  who 
stood  in  the  vicinity  of  the  lodge,  followed  us,  as  they 
watched  me  clinging  to  the  general's  arm  while  we  dis- 
appeared, in  the  direction  of  camp,  through  the  thicken- 
ing gloom. 

As  we  went  farther  north  the  twilights  became  longer, 
and  I  was  greatly  deceived  by  having  so  much  daylight. 
Every  morning,  when  the  reveille  sounded,  in  attempt- 
ing to  obey  its  summons  I  found  myself  actually  mysti- 
fied from  excessive  drowsiness,  and  I  announced  nsy 
resolve  to  go  to  bed  at  dark — as  was  often  my  custom 
on  previous  marches — when  I  was  informed  that  we  had 
marched  into  a  land  where  daylight  continues  into  the 
night  hours.  The  general,  who  was  always  looking  at 
the  curious  effects  in  the  heavens,  delighted  in  the  clear- 
ness of  the  atmosphere  and  the  myriads  of  stars  that 
seemed  to  far  outnumber  all  we  had  ever  seen  in  other 
skies.  All  the  strange  phenomena  of  northern  climes 
revealed  themselves  to  us  day  by  da3^  The  sun  and 
moon  dogs,  the  lunar  rainbows,  and  sometimes  three 
perfect  arcs  of  brilliant  color  formed  directly  above  us 
in  the  heavens  as  we  uiade  our  day's  march  through 
spring  showers.  The  storms  came  down  in  great  belts  of 
rain  sometimes,  and  if  the  country  were  level  enough  we 
could  look  ahead  on  the  plain  and  see  where  the  storm 
was  crossing.     Tliis  enabled  us  to  halt  in  time  to  escape 


53  BOOTS   AND   SADDLES. 

a  perfect  sheet  of  pouring  rain  which  fell  like  a  wall 
of  water  directly  before  lis.  Once  we  found  ourselves 
in  the  midst  of  it,  and  not  knowing  then  the  peculiari- 
ties of  such  storms,  we  took  our  drenching  philosophi- 
cally, and  believed  that  it  was  like  too  many  others  that 
had  kept  us  soaked  to  the  skin  for  hours.  Seeing  the 
sun  shining  in  advance  on  the  plain,  the  general  and  1 
put  spurs  to  our  horses  and  rode  out  of  the  storm  to 
perfectly  dry  ground.  The  sun  came  down  on  lis  so 
hotly  that  we  were  soon  enveloped  in  a  halo  of  steam 
from  our  drying  clothes. 

The  history  of  one  day's  march  was  that  of  many;  they 
were  varied  by  small  misfortunes  over  which  we  amused 
ourselves,  but  which  were  very  serious  affairs  to  the 
melancholy  Ham.  lie  had  cooked  by  fireplaces  in 
Kentucky,  but  never  having  lived  out-doors  before,  he 
gained  his  experience  by  hard  trials.  The  little  sheet- 
iron  cooking-stove  which  we  considered  such  a  treasure, 
was  placed  in  tiie  kitchen-tent  on  stormy  nights,  and  the 
bit  of  pipe,  put.  through  a  hole  in  the  canvas,  had  an 
elbow  so  that  it  could  be  turned  according  to  the  direc- 
tion of  the  wind. 

One  day,  after  camp  was  re-established,  the  general 
saw  the  smoke  pouring  out  of  the  opening  of  the  kitchen- 
tent,  and  hurried  to  see  what  was  the  matter.  It  was 
one  of  those  days  when  the  Dakota  winds,  like  those  of 
Kansas,  blow  in  all  directions;  poor  Ham  was  barely 
visible  in  the  dense  smoke  inside  the  tent.  "  Why 
don't  you  turn  the  pipe?"  the  general  called,  above  the 
tempest;  and  Ilam  shouted  back,  "Giniril,  I  did;  see 
whar  she's  p'intin'  now?"      Ilis   master's  sides  shook 


CAMPING  AMONG  THE  SIOUX.  53 

with  laughter,  for  sure  enough  the  pipe  would  have 
been  right  if  tliere  had  been  any  uniformity  in  the  course 
of  the  wind.  The  general  was  hungry,  but  he  did  not 
stop  to  complain  ;  he  found  a  place  somewhat  sheltered, 
and  dio:o;ini>:  a  hole  in  the  ffround,  taught  the  discourao'ed 

CDC?        C?  O  ?  O  O 

darkey  how  to  build  a  fire  outside.  At  last  we  sat 
down  to  a  burned,  smoky  meal,  and  had  to  go  to  bed 
hungry. 

Another  day,  when  there  was  a  small  tornado,  we 
began  to  wonder  why  dinner  was  delayed  ;  we  looked 
out,  to  find  the  cook-tent  blown  flat  to  the  ground.  The 
general  ran  to  the  rescue,  and  found  Ham  interred,  as 
the  old-time  child  stories  buried  their  heroes,  "in  a  pot 
of  grease."  He  had  been  thrown  among  skillets  and 
kettles,  and  the  half-cooked  dinner  was  scattered  over 
him.  The  general  helped  him  out,  and  was  too  much 
exhausted  with  laughter  over  the  old  fellow's  exasper- 
ated remarks  about  "such  a  low-down  country,"  to  mind 
the  delay  of  the  dinner.  Indeed,  he  soothed  him  by 
telling  him  to  wait  and  begin  again  when  the  wind  went 
down,  as  it  usually  does  when  the  sun  sets. 

One  day  we  caught  sight  of  our  American  flag  on  the 
other  side  of  the  riv^er,  floating  over  a  little  group  of 
buildings  inside  a  stockade.  When  they  told  nie  that 
it  was  a  military  post,  I  could  hardly  believe  it  possible ; 
it  seemed  that  no  spot  could  be  more  utterly  desolate. 
Then  I  remembered  having  met  an  ofiicer  at  Yankton 
who  had  told  me  that  was  his  station.  As  I  looked  at 
his  fine  face  and  figure,  I  could  not  help  thinking  how 
thoroughly  some  woman  would  appreciate  him.  Think- 
ing aloud,  I  said  that  I  hoped  he  had  "  improved  each 


64  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES, 

sinning  hour"  of  his  leave  of  absence,  and  was  already 
engaged.  He  replied  that  I  -svoiild  see  his  post  as  we 
went  up  the  river,  and  then  might  comprehend  why  he 
did  not  dare  ask  any  woman  to  be  his  wife.  I  argued 
that  if  some  girl  grew  fond  of  him,  it  would  little  mat- 
ter to  her  where  she  went,  if  it  were  only  by  her  hus- 
band's side.  I  confess,  however,  that  when  I  saw  that 
lonely  place,  I  thought  that  it  would  require  extraordi- 
nary devotion  to  follow  him  there.  It  was  an  infantry 
station,  and  the  soldiers'  barracks,  oiiicers'  quarters,  and 
storehouses  were  huddled  together  inside  a  wall  made 
of  logs  placed  perpendicularly  and  about  fifteen  feet 
high.  The  sand  was  so  deep  about  this  spot  that  noth- 
ing could  be  made  to  grow.  Constant  gusts  of  wind 
over  the  unprotected  plain  kept  little  clouds  of  fine 
alkaline  dust  whirling  in  the  air  and  filling  the  eyes  and 
mouth ;  not  a  tree  was  near,  as  the  Missouri — that  most 
uncertain  of  rivers — kept  constantly  changing  its  chan- 
nel, and  the  advancing  water  washed  away  great  hollows 
in  the  banks.  The  post  would  then  have  to  be  moved 
farther  back  for  safet3\  The  soldiers  would  be  obliged 
to  take  up  the  stockade,  and  bury  the  logs  as  deep  as  they 
could  to  keep  them  from  blowing  over.  The  frail  build- 
ings, "  built  upon  the  sand,"  rocked  and  swayed  in  the 
wind. 

Beside  the  forlorn  situation  of  this  garrison,  no  one 
could  go  outside  to  ride  or  hunt  without  peril.  The 
warlike  Indians  considered  that  side  of  the  river  theirs, 
and  roamed  up  and  down  it  at  will.  They  came  in- 
cessantly to  the  small  sliding  panel  in  the  gates  of 
the  stockade,  and   made   demands,  which,  if  not  con- 


CAliriNG  AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  r.5 

seated  to,  were  followed  by  howls  of  rage  and  threaten- 
ino-  ofe&tiires.  All  that  the  handful  of  men  could  do  was 
to  conciliate  them  as  best  they  could.  The  company  was 
not  full,  and  possibly ,<ill  told,  there  were  but  fifty  white 
men  against  hundreds  of  Indians.  The  only  variety  in 
their  lives  was  the  passing  of  an  occasional  steamer  in 
the  brief  summer.  Then  settled  down  the  pitiless  win- 
ter, burying  them  in  snow  which  never  left  the  ground 
until  late  in  the  spring.  The  mail  only  reached  them  at 
irregular  intervals.  They  were  compelled  to  live  almost 
entirely  on  commissary  stores,  for  though  living  in  the 
midst  of  game  it  was  too  hazardous  to  attempt  to  hunt. 
When  we  found  that  one  regiment  had  been  seven 
years  on  the  river,  and  some  of  the  officers  had  never 
taken  leave  of  absence,  it  seems  strange  that  any  one 
stationed  at  such  a  post  had  not  gone  stark  mad.  It 
makes  me  proud  of  women  when  I  recall  the  fact  that 
the  wife  of  an  officer  did  live  in  that  wretched  little 
post  afterwards,  and  did  not  complain.  The  cavalry, 
turning  to  look  their  last  at  that  garrison,  thanked  the 
good-fortune  that  had  placed  them  in  a  branch  of  the 
service  where  tliere  was  the  active  dutj^  of  campaigns 
to  vary  a  life  otherwise  so  monotonous. 

The  dogs  had  almost  as  hard  a  time  to  become  accus- 
tomed to  the  vagaries  of  a  Dakota  climate  as  we  did. 
We  had  to  be  their  nurses  and  surgeons.  In  our  large 
]>ack  of  hounds  there  weve  many  that  had  marked  indi- 
viduality of  character.  Not  many  days  could  be  passed 
in  their  company  before  v/e  were  noticing  new  peculi- 
arities not  previously  observed.  The  general  had  a 
droll  fashion,  as  we  rode  along,  of  puttiiig  words  into 


56  BOOTS  AXD   SADDLES. 

their  mouths  when  thej  got  into  trouble,  fought  among 
themselves,  or  tried  to  lord  it  over  one  another.  One 
of  them  had  been  given  us,  and  had  been  called  bj  her 
former  owner  "Lucy  Stone."  In  vain  did  we  try,  out 
of  respect  for  the  life  of  the  useful  woman  for  whom 
she  was  named,  to  rccliristen  the  dog.  She  would 
neither  listen  nor  obey  if  called  anything  else.  I  can 
see  her  now,  sitting  deliberately  down  in  the  road 
directly  in  front  of  us,  and  holding  up  a  paw  full  of 
cactus  thorns.  The  general  would  say,  "  There  sits  Lucy 
Stone,  and  she  is  saying,  'If  you  please,  sir,  since  you 
chose  to  bring  me  into  a  land  of  bristling  earth  like  this, 
will  you  please  get  down  immediately  and  attend  to  my 
foot?'"  Her  howls  and  npturned  eyes  meant  an  ap- 
peal, certainly,  and  her  master  would  leap  to  the  ground, 
sit  down  in  the  road,  and  taking  the  old  creature  in 
his  arms,  begin  the  surgery.  He  carried  one  of  those 
knives  that  had  many  adjuncts,  and  with  the  tweezers 
he  worked  tenderly  and  long  to  extract  the  tormenting 
cactus  needles.  Lucy  was  a  complaining  old  dame,  and 
when  the  general  saw  her  sit  down,  like  some  fat  old 
woman,  he  used  to  say  that  the  old  madam  was  telling 
him  that  she  "  would  like  to  drive  a  bit,  if  you  please."  So 
it  often  happened  that  my  travelling-wagon  was  the  hos- 
pital for  an  ill  or  foot-sore  dog.  The  general  had  to  stop 
very  often  to  attend  to  the  wounded  paws,  but  experi- 
ence taught  the  dogs  to  make  their  way  very  skilfully 
where  the  cactus  grew.  A  dancing- master,  tripping 
the  steps  of  instruction,  could  not  have  moved  more 
lightly  than  did  they.  If  there  were  no  one  near  to 
whom  they  could  appeal  in  the  human  way  those  dumb 


CAMPING  AMOXG   THE   SIOUX.  57 

things  Lave,  tliej  learned  to  draw  out  the  offending 
tliorns  with  their  teeth. 

AVhile  wo  were  all  getting  accnstomed  to  the  new 
climate,  it  was  of  no  use  to  try  to  keep  the  dogs  out  of 
raj  tent.  Thej  stood  around,  and  ejed  me  with  such 
reproachful  looks  if  I  attempted  to  tie  up  the  entrance 
to  the  tent  and  leave  them  out.  If  it  were  very  cold 
when  I  returned  from  the  dining-tent,  I  found  dogs 
under  and  on  the  camp-bed,  and  so  thickly  scattered 
over  the  floor  that  I  had  to  step  carefully  over  them  to 
avoid  hurting  feet  or  tails.  If  I  secured  a  place  in  the 
bed  I  was  fortunate.  Sometimes,  when  it  had  rained,  and 
all  of  them  were  wet,  I  rebelled.  The  steam  from  their 
shaggy  coats  was  stifling;  but  the  general  begged  so 
hard  for  them  that  I  taught  myself  to  endure  the  air  at 
last.  I  never  questioned  the  right  of  the  half-grown 
puppies  to  everything.  Our  struggles  to  raise  them, 
and  to  avoid  the  distemper  which  goes  so  much  harder 
with  blooded  than  with  cur  dogs,  endeared  them  to  us. 
When  I  let  the  little  ones  in,  it  was  really  comical  to 
hear  my  husband's  arguments  and  cunningly-devised 
reasons  why  the  older  dogs  should  follow.  A  plea  was 
put  up  for  "the  hound  that  had  fits;"  there  was  always 
another  that  "  had  been  hurt  in  hunting;"  and  so  on  until 
the  tent  would  hold  no  more.  Fortunately,  in  pleasant 
weather,  I  was  let  off  with  only  the  ill  or  injured  ones 
for  perpetual  companions.  We  were  so  surrounded  with 
dogs  when  they  were  resting  after  the  march,  and  they 
slept  so  soundly  from  fatigue,  that  it  was  difficult  to 
walk  about  without  stepping  on  them. 

My  favorite,  a  great  cream-colored  stag-hound,  was 
.3* 


58  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

named  "  Cardigan."  lie  never  gave  up  trying  to  be 
my  lap-dog.  He  was  enormous,  and  yet  seemingly  un- 
conscious of  Jiis  size.  He  kept  up  a  perpetual  struggle 
and  scramble  on  his  hind-legs  to  get  his  whole  body  up 
on  my  lap.  If  I  pieced  myself  out  with  a  camp-stool  to 
support  him,  he  closed  his  eyes  in  a  beatific  state  and 
sighed  iu  content  wliile  I  held  him,  until  my  foot  went 
to  sleep  and  I  was  cramped  with  his  weigh.t.  One  tiling 
that  made  me  so  fond  of  him  was  that  on  one  occasion, 
wdien  he  was  put  in  the  kennel  after  an  absence,  he  was 
almost  torn  to  pieces  by  the  other  dogs.  lie  was  a  brave 
hound,  but  he  was  at  fearful  odds  against  so  many. 
Great  slices  of  flesh  were  torn  from  his  sides,  and  gaping 
wounds  made  by  the  fang-like  teeth  showed  through  his 
shaggy  coat.     It  was  many  months  before  they  healed. 

Though  the  stag-hound  is  gentle  with  human  beings 
he  is  a  terrible  figliter.  They  stand  on  their  hind-legs 
and,  facing  each  other,  claw  and  tear  like  demons.  It  was 
always  necessary  to  watch  them  closely  when  a  now  dog, 
or  one  that  they  had  not  seen  for  some  time,  was  put  in 
their  midst. 

I  will  anticipate  a  moment  and  speak  of  the  final  fate 
of  Cardigan.  When  I  left  Fort  Lincoln  I  asked  some 
one  to  look  out  for  his  welfare,  and  send  him,  as  soon  as 
possible,  to  a  clergyman  who  had  been  my  husband's 
friend.  My  request  was  complied  with,  and  afterwards, 
when  the  poor  old  dog  died,  his  new  master  lionored 
him  by  having  his  body  set  up  by  the  taxidermist,  and  a 
place  was  given  him  in  one  of  the  public  buildings  in 
Minneapolis.  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  he  was  worthy 
of  the  tribute,  not  only  becaase  of  tlic  testimony  thus 


CAMPING   AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  59 

f^'iven  to  the  friendsliip  of  the  people  for  his  master,  but 
because  he  was  the  bravest  and  most  faithful  of  animals. 

Most  of  the  country  passed  over  in  our  route  belonged 
to  the  Indian  Reservations,  and  the  Government  was 
endeavoring  to  teach  the  tribes  settled  there  to  culti- 
vate the  soil.  Tliej  had  hunted  off  most  of  the  game  ; 
an  occasional  jack-rabbit,  the  plover,  and  a  few  wild 
ducks  were  all  tliat  were  left.  I  must  not  forget  the 
maddening  curlew.  It  was  not  good  eating,  but  it  was 
always  exciting  to  see  one.  There  never  was  a  more 
exasperating  bird  to  shoot.  Time  and  again  a  successful 
wsliot  was  prophesied,  and  I  was  called  to  be  a  witness, 
only  to  see  finally  the  surprise  of  the  general  wlien  the 
wily  bird  soared  calmly  away.  I  believe  no  person 
was  able  to  bring  one  down  during  the  entire  trip. 

As  we  approached  an  Indian  vilhige,  the  chiefs  came 
out  to  receive  us.  There  were  many  high-sounding 
words  of  welcome,  translated  by  our  guide,  who,  having 
lived  among  them  many  yeai's,  knew  the  different  dia- 
lects. The  Government  had  built  some  comfortable  log- 
houses  for  them,  in  many  of  which  I  would  have  lived 
gladly.  The  Indians  did  not  care  for  them,  complaining 
that  they  had  coughs  if  they  occupied  a  house.  A  tepee 
was  put  up  alongside,  in  which  one  or  two  families 
lived,  while  little  low  lodges,  looking  like  the  soldiers' 
shelter-tents,  were  used  for  the  young  men  of  the  circle 
to  sleep  in.  The  tools  and  stores  given  by  the  Govern- 
ment were  packed  away  in  the  otherwise  empty  liouses. 


CO  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

A   VISIT   TO   THE    VILLAGE    OF  "  TWO    BEARS." 

A  Siocx  chief,  called  Two  Bears,  had  the  most  pict- 
uresque village  that  we  saw.  The  lodges  were  placed 
in  a  circle,  as  this  was  judged  the  most  defensive  posi- 
tion ;  the  ponies  were  herded  inside  the  enclosure  at 
night.  This  precaution  was  necessary,  for  the  neighbor- 
ing tribes  swept  down  on  them  after  dark  and  ran  off 
the  stock  if  tliej  Vv^ere  not  secured.  As  we  dismounted, 
we  saw  an  old  man  standing  alone  in  the  circle,  appar- 
ently unconscious  of  everything,  as  he  recounted  some 
war  tale  in  loud,  monotonous  tones.  lie  had  no  listen- 
ers— all  were  intently  watcliing  the  approaching  regi- 
ment ;  still  the  venerable  Sioux  went  on  as  persistently 
as  if  he  were  looking  '•'  upon  a  sea  of  upturned  faces." 
He  was  the  "medicine-man,"  or  oracle,  of  the  tribe, 
or  possibly  the  "poet -laureate"  of  the  village,  for  the 
guide  told  us  he  sang  of  the  deeds  of  valor  of  his  peo- 
ple far  back  in  historj'. 

Just  outside  of  the  village,  the  chiefs  sat  in  a  circle 
awaiting  us.  Two  Bears  arose  to  welcome  the  general, 
and  asked  him  to  go  with  him  to  his  lodge.  I  was  asked 
to  go  also  and  ])c  presented  to  Miss  Two  Bears;  for  she 
was  too  royal  in  birth  to  be  permitted  outside,  and  it 
was  not  in  keeping  with  the  dignity  of  her  rank  to 


A  VISIT   TO   THE  VILLAGE   OF  "TWO   BEARS."  61 

mingle  with  the  otlicrs,  the  guide  afterwards  explained 
to  us. 

Tlie  lionor  of  going  alone  into  the  tepee  was  one  that 
I  could  have  foregone,  for  my  courage  was  much  greater 
if  I  did  my  Indian  sight-seeing  surrounded  by  the  regi- 
ment. The  general,  fearing  their  amour  jpropre  might 
be  offended  if  I  declined  the  invitation,  whispered  an 
encouraging  word,  and  we  dipped  our  heads  and  crept 
into  the  tepee.  The  chief  was  a  dignified  old  man, 
wrapped  in  his  blanket,  without  the  usual  addition  of 
some  portion  of  citizen's  dress  which  the  Indians  believe 
adds  to  their  grandeur.  His  daughter  also  was  in  com- 
plete squaw's  costume ;  her  feet  were  moccasined,  her 
legs  and  ankles  wound  round  with  beaded  leggings,  and 
she  had  on  the  one  buckskin  garment  which  never  varies 
in  cut  throuo^h  all  the  tribes.  K  blanket  drawn  over 
her  head  was  belted  at  her  waist.  To  crown  all  this, 
however,  slie  had  an  open  parasol,  brought  to  her, 
doubtless,  as  a  present  by  some  Indian  returning  from 
a  council  at  Washington.  She  held  it  with  dignity,  as 
if  it  might  be  to  her  as  much  an  insignia  of  state  as  the 
mace  of  the  lord-mayor. 

Fortunately  they  did  not  ask  us  to  sit  down  and  par- 
take of  jerked  beef,  or  to  smoke  the  never-ending  pipe, 
so  we  soon  got  through  our  compliments  and  returned 
to  the  outer  entrance  of  the  village. 

Here  the  tribe  were  assembled,  and  evidently  attired 
in  gala-dress  in  our  honor.  We  were  most  interested  in 
tlie  village  belle,  and  the  placid  manner  in  which  she 
permitted  us  to  walk  around  her,  gazing  and  talking  her 
good  points  over,  showed  that  she  expected  homage. 


03  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

She  sat  on  a  scarlet  blanket  spread  on  the  ground,  and 
over  her,  stretched  from  poles,  M-as  another  for  an  awn- 
ing. She  was  loaded  with  ornaments,  row  after  row  of 
beads  about  her  neck,  broad  armlets  and  anklets  of 
brass,  pinchbeck  rings,  and  a  soft  buckskin  dress  and 
leggings,  heavily  embroidered.  Her  ears  M-ere  pierced 
twice — on  the  side  as  well  as  in  the  lobe — and  from  these 
holes  were  suspended  circles  of  gilt.  Iler  bright  eyes, 
the  satin  smoothness  of  her  hair,  and  the  clear  brown 
of  the  skin  made  a  pretty  picture.  There  was  no  at- 
tempt to  blend  into  the  brown  the  bright  patch  of  car- 
mine on  each  cheek. 

Only  extreme  youth  and  its  ever  attractive  charms 
can  make  one  forget  the  heavy  square  shape  of  Indian 
faces  and  their  coarse  features.  It  was  surprising  to  see 
all  the  other  squaws  giving  up  the  field  to  this  one  so 
completely.  The}^  crouched  near,  with  a  sort  of  "every- 
dog-must-have-its-day  "  look,  and  did  not  even  dispute 
her  sway  by  making  coy  eyes  as  we  spoke  to  them. 

There  were  but  few  young  men.  Their  absence  was 
always  excused  by  the  same  reason — they  were  out  hunt- 
ing. We  knew  how  little  game  there  was,  and  surmised 
— what  we  afterwards  found  to  be  true — that  they  had 
joined  the  hostile  tribes,  and  only  came  in  to  the  dis- 
tribution of  supplies  and  presents  in  the  fall.  *A  few 
rods  from  the  village  a  tripod  of  poles  was  set  in  the 
ground,  and  lashed  to  it  the  Indian's  shield,  made  of  the 
hide  of  the  buffalo  where  it  is  thickest  about  the  neck. 
There  Avere  rude  paintings  and  Indian  hieroglyphics 
covering  it.  The  shield  is  an  heirloom  with  the  Indian, 
and  the  one  selected  to  bans:  out  in  this  manner  has  al- 


A  VISIT   TO   THE   VILLAGE   OF   "TWO  BEARS.'  63 

ways  tlie  greatest  war  record.  One  of  their  supersti- 
tions is  tluit  it  keeps  away  enemies.  These  noinads  had 
some  idea  of  luxury,  for  I  recollect  seeing  some  of  them 
reclining  on  a  kind  of  rest  made  of  a  framework  of 
pliable  rods,  over  which  was  stretched  buckskin.  After- 
wards I  found  how  comfortable  such  contrivances  Avere, 
for  one  was  given  me.  The  slope  is  so  gradual  that  you 
half  rccluic  and  can  read  with  great  ease. 

When  we  had  reached  camj)  and  were  taking  our 
afternoon  siesta  tlie  same  day,  with  the  tent  walls  raised 
for  air,  we  were  roused  by  the  sound  of  music.  Look- 
ing off  over  the  bluffs  we  saw  a  large  body  of  Indians 
approaching  on  ponies,  while  squaws  and  children  ran 
beside  them.  It  was  the  prompt  response  of  Two  Bears 
to  the  general's  invitation  to  return  his  call.  The  war- 
riors stopped  near  camp,  and  dismounting  advanced  to- 
wards ns.  The  squavv^s  unbridled  and  picketed  the  po- 
nies, and  made  themselves  comfortable  by  arranging 
impromptu  shades  of  the  bright  blankets.  They  staked 
down  two  corners  closely  to  the  ground,  and  propped 
up  the  others  with  poles  stuck  in  the  sod. 

When  the  Indians  came  up  to  us,  the  council  was,  as 
usual,  begun.  The  pipe  being  smoked,  Two  Bears  gave 
us  a  eulogy  of  himself.  lie  then  demanded,  in  behalf 
of  the  tribe,  payment  for  the  use  of  the  ground  on  whicii 
we  were  encamped,  and  also  for  the  grass  consumed, 
though  it  was  too  short  to  get  more  than  an  occasional 
tuft.  lie  ended,  as  they  all  do,  with  a  request  for  food. 
The  general  in  reply  vaguely  referred  them  to  the  Great 
Father  in  payment  for  the  use  of  their  land,  but  \)\\'- 
sentcd  them  with  a  beef  in  return  for  their  hospitality. 


64  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

Only  lialf  satisfied,  tliej'  stalked  away  one  by  one.  We 
watched  tlicm  at  a  distance  kill  and  divide  the  beef.  It 
surprised  us  to  see  how  they  despatched  it,  and  that 
hardly  a  vestige  of  it  was  left. 

Many  of  the  Indians  coming  from  reservations  carried 
papers  which  they  valued  and  carefully  guarded.  After 
burrowing  under  robe  and  shirt,  something  was  produced 
wrapped  in  layers  of  soiled  cotton  cloth.  It  was  a  rec- 
ommendation of  them  obtained  from  some  officer  or 
Indian  agent.  This  was  presented  on  entering,  as  their 
letter  of  introduction.  Most  of  these  papers  read  very 
much  the  same  way.  Giving  the  Indian's  name,  it  stat- 
ed that  he  had  been  living  on  the  reservation  for  a  cer- 
tain length  of  time,  that  he  was  friendly  to  the  whites, 
etc. 

One  of  our  guests  that  day  carried  something  a  little 
<lilierent.  He  was  called  "Medicine  Jo."  Linffcrinof 
behind  the  rest,  he  presented  his  letter  with  perfect  good 
faith  and  great  pomposity.  Some  wag  had  composed  it, 
and  it  read  something  like  this  : 

"  Medicine  Jo  says  lie  is  a  good  Indian,  that  you  can  trust  laim. 
If  lie  is,  he  is  the  first  I  have  ever  seen,  and  in  my  opinion  he,  like 
all  the  rest,  will  bear  watching." 

It  was  all  the  general  could  do  to  keep  his  face  straight 
as  he  handed  back  to  the  unconscious  owner  this  little 
libel  on  himself. 

The  interpreter  kept  constantly  before  us  the  fine  post 
that  we  were  approaching,  and  the  last  day  before  we 
reached  there  it  was  visible  for  a  long  distance.  The 
atmosphere  of  Dakota  was  so  deceptive  that  we  im.ig. 


A  VISIT  TO  THE  VILLAGE  OF  "TWO  BEARS."  65 

ined  ourselves  within  a  few  miles  of  the  garrison,  when, 
in  reality,  there  was  a  march  of  twenty-nine  long  miles 
before  ns. 

Our  road  led  up  from  the  river  valley  on  the  high 
bluffs,  and  sometimes  followed  along  the  backbone  of 
hills  from  which  on  either  side  we  looked  down  a  great 
distance.  There  was  barely  room  for  the  travelling- 
wagon.  Occasionally  I  had  been  obliged  to  take  refuge 
from  the  cold  for  a  little  while  and  drive.  Our  lead- 
mules  were  tiny,  quick-moving  little  dots,  and  I  soon 
discovered  that  they  were  completely  demoralized  at 
the  sight  of  an  Indian.  They  could  see  one  in  advance 
long  before  the  driver  could.  A  sudden  shying  and 
quick  turning  of  these  agile  little  brutes,  a  general  tan- 
gle of  themselves  in  the  harness  and  legs  of  the  wheelers, 
loud  shouts  of  the  driver,  and  a  quick  downfall  of  his 
foot  on  the  brake,  to  keep  us  from  overturning,  made 
an  exciting  melee. 

Nothing  would  get  them  righted  and  started  again. 
They  would  have  to  be  unharnessed,  and  the  rebellious 
pair  tied  to  the  rear  of  the  wagon  until  we  had  gone 
far  beyond  the  object  of  terror.  Part  of  the  day  that 
we  were  following  the  wanderings  of  the  road  alongside 
hills  and  over  the  narrow,  smooth  level  of  the  hill-tops, 
I  was  compelled  to  drive,  and  I  watched  anxiously  the 
ears  of  these  wretched  little  beasts  to  see  if  they  ex- 
pressed any  sentiment  of  fright.  We  came  to  such  steep 
descents,  the  brake  holding  the  wheels  seemed  of  no 
use.  Looking  down  from  tlie  wagon  on  to  the  mules 
below  us,  we  appeared  to  be  in  the  position  of  flics  on 
a  wall. 


6G  BOOTS   AND   SADDLES. 

As  we  came  to  one  descent  more  awful  than  the  rest, 
the  general,  who  was  always  near,  rode  np  to  the  car- 
riage and  told  me  not  to  be  afraid,  for  he  would  order 
the  wheels  manned.  The  head-quarters  escort  of  over  a 
hundred  men,  dismounting,  attached  ropes  to  the  wheels, 
and  held  on  with  all  their  strength  while  I  w^ent  down 
the  steepest  declivity  I  had  ever  descended.  After  that 
I  begged  to  get  out,  and  the  general  carried  me  to  a 
bank  and  set  me  down  where  I  could  watch  the  repair- 
ing of  the  road. 

He  took  off  his  coat  and  joined  the  soldiers  in  carry- 
ing logs  and  shovelling  earth,  for  they  were  obliged  to 
fill  up  the  soft  bed  of  the  stream  before  the  command 
could  cross.  It  took  a  long  time  and  much  patience; 
but  the  general  enjoyed  it  all,  and  often  helped  when 
the  crossings  needed  to  be  prepared.  "When  the  logs 
were  all  laid,  I  had  to  laugh  at  the  energy  he  showed 
in  cracking  a  whip  he  borrowed  from  a  teamster,  and 
shouting  to  the  mules  to  urge  them  to  pull  through 
where  there  was  danger  of  their  stalling.  When  the 
road  was  completed,  I  was  ready  to  mount  my  horse, 
for  it  seemed  to  me  preferable  to  die  from  accident,  sur- 
rounded with  friends,  than  to  expire  alone  in  the  mule- 
wagon.  The  ascent  was  rendered  so  wet  and  slippery, 
the  general  feared  my  saddle  would  turn,  and  I  was  once 
more  shut  in  by  myself.  The  soldiers  again  manned 
the  wheels  to  prevent  the  carriage  sliding  back,  the 
mules  scrambled,  and  with  the  aid  of  language  prepared 
expressly  for  them,  we  reached  the  summit. 

The  di-iver  had  named  the  lead -nudes  Uettie  and 
Jane,  and  when  they  were  over  their  tempers  he  petted 


A  VISIT   TO   THE   VILLAGE   OF   "TWO  BEARS."  67 

and  caressed  them.  Their  repeated  rebellion  at  last 
wore  out  even  liis  patience.  One  morning  I  noticed 
new  leaders,  bnt  tlie  imperturbable  face  of  the  driver 
gave  no  hint  of  his  successful  plotting.  Mary  told  me, 
however,  that  he  was  worn  out  with  his  struggles,  and 
had  gone  after  dark  into  the  herd  of  mules  with  Bettio 
and  Jane,  and,  as  he  expressed  it,  "lost  them."  He  se- 
lected two  more  from  among  those  belonging  to  the 
wagon-train,  and  returned  triumphant  over  his  premedi- 
tated exchange.  He  carefully  reclippcd  their  manes 
and  tails,  and  disguised  them  still  further  with  blotches 
of  black  paint,  to  give  them  a  mottled  appearance. 
When  the  other  teamster  pre])ared  to  harness  in  the 
morning,  of  course  he  discovered  the  fraud  perpetrated 
on  him.  There  was  no  redress  then,  and  he  had  to  take 
out  bis  wrath  in  language  more  forcible  than  elegant, 
which  the  teamsters  have  adapted  expressly  for  extreme 
occasions.  Our  driver  told  Mary,  with  a  chuckle,  that 
with  a  command  of  many  hundred  men  waiting  for  a 
teamster  to  harness,  he  found  "no  time  for  swapping 
horses." 

Burkman,  the  soldier  who  took  care  of  our  horses, 
was  a  middle-aged  man,  so  deliberate  in  speech  and  slow 
in  his  movements,  he  seemed  as  incongruous  among  the 
spirited  cavalrymen  as  would  be  an  old-time  farmer. 
Early  in  the  march  I  had  heard  bin)  coughing  as  he 
groomed  the  horses,  "When  I  asked  if  he  had  done  any- 
thing for  his  cold,  he  replied,  "  Bottle  after  bottle  of 
stuff,  mum,  but  it  don't  do  no  good,"  so  I  begged  the 
surgeon  to  look  more  carefully  into  his  case.  He  made 
an  examination,  and  told  me,  as  the  result,  that  the  man 


68  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

must  have  only  light  work  and  nourishing  food.  After 
that  I  asked  Mary  to  save  everj'thing  for  Burkuian  and 
make  his  recovery  her  especial  care.  The  cflScers  made 
fun  of  me,  as  they  were  rather  incredulous,  and  thought 
a  bit  of  shamming  was  being  practised  on  me,  but  I  knew 
better.  They  never  failed  to  comment  and  smile  when, 
they  saw  the  old  defender  of  his  country  coming  out  of 
the  kitchen-tent,  his  jaws  working  and  his  mouth  full, 
while  he  carried  all  the  food  his  hands  would  hold.  To 
tell  the  truth,  he  kept  up  this  prescription  of  nourishing 
food  long  after  he  had  quite  recovered. 

It  became  the  delight  of  my  husband  and  the  officers 
to  chaff  me  about  "  Old  Nutriment,"  for  such  was  the 
sobriquet  they  gave  him.  At  last,  even  Mary  began 
to  narrate  how  he  swept  everything  before  him  with 
voracious,  convalescing  appetite.  "  Why,  Miss  Libbie," 
she  said  to  me  one  day,  "I  thought  I'd  try  him  with  a 
can  of  raw  tomatoes,  and  set  them  before  him,  asking 
if  he  was  fond  of  them.  And  he  just  drawled  out, 
^Always  tuas,''  and  the  tomatoes  were  gone  in  no  time." 
His  laconic  answer  passed  into  a  proverb  with  us  all, 
when  invited  to  partake  of  anything  we  liked. 

Such  a  tender  heart  as  that  old  soldier  had !  I 
iiad  noticed  this  first  in  Kentucky.  My  horse,  which  I 
prized  above  all  that  I  have  ever  ridden,  died  during 
my  temporary  absence  from  home.  I  was  too  greatly 
grieved  to  ask  manj'-  questions  about  him,  but  one  day, 
some  time  afterwards,  when  we  were  riding  tlirough  a 
charming  bit  of  country,  Burkman  approached  me  from 
the  place  where  he  usually  rode  behind  us,  and  said, 
"I'd  like  to  tell  Mrs.  Custer  there's  whar  poor  Phil  lies 


A  VISIT   TO   THE   VILLAGE   OF   "TWO   BEARS."  G9 

I  picked  the  purtiest  place  I  could  find  for  him."  And 
he  liad  indeed,  for  the  green  valley  under  wide-spread- 
ing trees  would  have  gone  far  to  reconcile  many  a  weary 
imrnan  heart  to  be  placed  under  the  sod. 

"We  thought  M'e  had  made  the  first  step  towards  sav- 
aore  life  when  Burkman  brouii-ht  the  mother  of  the  one 
baby  of  our  regiment  the  dried  vertebra  of  a  rattle- 
snake that  he  killed,  because  he  had  heard  that  it  was 
the  best  of  anything  on  which  the  infant  could  cut  its 
teeth ! 

I  had  made  some  scarlet  flannel  shirts  for  my  hu&- 
band's  use  on  the  summer  campaign,  and  he  M'as  as 
much  pleased  as  possible,  beginning  at  once  to  wear 
them.  Not  many  days'  march  proved  to  nie  what  an 
error  I  had  made.  The  bright  red  color  could  be  seen 
for  miles,  when  the  form  itself  was  almost  lost  on  the 
liorizon.  I  had  to  coax  to  get  them  away  again  and 
replace  them  with  the  dark  blue  that  he  usually  wore. 
Though  I  triumphed,!  was  met  with  a  perfect  fusillade 
of  teasing  wlien  I  presented  the  red  shirts  to  Burkman. 
The  oflicers,  of  course,  hearing  all  the  discussion  over 
the  subject — as  no  trifle  was  too  small  to  intei'est  us  in 
one  another's  affairs — attacked  me  at  once.  If  I  had 
Deen  so  anxious  to  protect  the  general  from  wearing 
anything  that  would  attract  the  far-seeing  eye  of  the 
vigilant  Indian  on  the  coming  campaign,  why  should  I 
be  so  willing  to  sacrifice  the  life  of  "Old  Nutriment?" 
They  made  no  impression  on  me,  however,  for  they 
knew  as  well  as  I  did  that  the  soldier,  though  so  faith- 
ful, was  not  made  of  that  stuff  that  seeks  to  lead  a  Bal- 
aklava  charge. 


70  BOOTS  A\D   SADDLES. 

My  Iiusband  and  I  were  so  attached  to  him,  and  ap- 
preciated so  deeply  his  fidelity,  we  could  not  thank  the 
good-fortune  enough  that  gave  us  one  so  lo^'al  to  our 
interests. 

Before  we  reached  the  post  wo  were  approaching, 
the  commandant  sent  out  ice  for  our  use,  and  the 
despatches  of  the  Associated  Press.  The  general  was 
greatly  delighted  to  get  news  of  events  that  had  oc- 
curred all  over  the  world,  in  this  far  distant  land.  We 
found  afterwards  that  the  officers  joined  in  paying  for 
the  despatches.  The  Indians  had  such  a  superstition 
about  molesting  the  wires,  that  the  lines  ran  through 
even  the  most  dangerous  country,  I  can  hardly  say- 
how  good  it  seemed  to  us  to  see  a  telegraph-pole  again. 

We  were  not  surprised,  after  seeing  the  other  posts 
below  on  the  river,  that  the  guide  had  praised  Fort 
Sully.  It  was  the  head-quarters  of  one  of  the  infantry 
regiments,  and  the  commanding  ofHcer  had  been  at  the 
post  long  enough  to  put  it  in  excellent  order.  It  was 
situated  on  an  open  plateau,  from  which  there  was  an 
extensive  view.'  Below  in  the  valley  the  companies 
had  gardens,  and  they  also  kept  cows,  pigs,  and  chick- 
ens. We  looked  upon  all  this  as  an  El  Dorado,  and  the 
thought  of  remaining  long  enough  at  one  fort  to  get 
any  good  out  of  a  garden  was  simply  unknown  in  our 
vagrant  existence. 

Our  camp  was  very  near  the  post,  on  the  same  open 
plain,  without  trees  or  shelter.  We  were  received  with 
genuine  hospitality,  and  finally  all  of  us  invited  to 
luncheon.  The  ladies  came  up  from  tlie  steamer,  and 
the  large  house  was  filled   M'ith  happy  people.     The 


A  VISIT   TO   THE   VILLAGE   OF   "TWO   BEARS."  71 

post  band  plaved  outside  on  the  parade-gronnd  while 
we  lunched.  We  had  nine  kinds  of  game  on  the  table. 
Some  of  it  was  new  to  ns — the  beaver  tail,  for  instance 
• — but  it  was  so  like  pork  and  so  fat  I  could  only  taste  it. 
We  had,  in  addition,  antelope,  elk,  buffalo  tongue,  wild 
turkey,  black-tailed  deer,  wild  goose,  plover,  and  duck. 
The  ffoose  was  a  sort  of  "  fatted  calf "  for  us.  The 
soldiers  had  caught  it  while  young,  and  by  constantly 
clipping  its  wings,  had  kept  it  from  joining  the  flocks 
which  its  cries  often  brought  circling  around  the  post. 
At  last  it  began  to  make  tlie  life  of  the  chickens  a 
burden  to  them,  and  we  arrived  in  time  to  enjoy  the 
delicious  bird  served  with  jelly  made  from  the  tart, 
wild  "  bullbcrries "  that  grew  near  the  river.  The 
home-made  bread,  delightful  cake,  tender  ham  of  the 
garrison's  own  curing,  and  the  sweets  made  with  cream, 
fresh  butter,  and  eggs — three  unheard-of  luxuries  with 
us — proved  that  it  is  possible  for  army  people  to  live 
in  comfort  if  they  do  not  belong  to  a  mounted  regi- 
ment. Still,  though  they  had  a  band  and  a  good  li- 
brary belonging  to  the  regiment,  the  thought  of  being 
walled  in  with  snow,  and  completely  isolated  for  eight 
months  of  the  year,  made  me  shudder.  The  post  was 
midway  between  Yankton  and  Bismarck,  each  the 
termination  of  a  railroad,  and  each  two  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  away. 

The  wife  of  the  commanding  officer  was  known 
throughout  the  department  for  her  lovely  Christian 
character,  and  the  contented  life  she  led  under  all  cir- 
cumstances. I  was  much  amused  at  her  account  of  her 
repeated  trials  in  trying  to  secure  a  permanent  govern- 


72  BOOTS  Ax\D   SADDLES. 

ess.  She  said  all  the  posts  along  the  river  seemed  to 
know  intuitively  when  a  new  one  arrived  from  the 
East.  The  yonng  officers  found  more  imperative  du- 
ties calling  them  to  Fort  Sully  than  they  had  dreamed 
of  in  a  year.  Before  long  the  governess  began  to  be 
abstracted,  and  watch  longingly  for  the  mails.  A  ring 
would  next  appear  on  the  significant  first  finger,  and 
be  the  forerunner  of  a  request  to  allow  her  to  resign 
lier  place.  This  had  happened  four  times  when  I  met 
our  hostess,  and  though  she  was  glad  to  furnish  the 
officers  with  wives,  she  rather  sighed  for  a  woman  who, 
though  possessing  every  accomplishment,  might  still  be 
so  antiquated  and  ugly  that  she  could  be  sure  to  keep 
her  for  a  time  at  least. 

The  commandant  had  some  fine  greyhounds,  and 
joining  the  general  with  his  packs  of  stag  and  fox 
hounds,  they  had  several  hunts  in  the  few  days  that 
remained.  Of  course,  after  so  bright  a  visit  and  such 
a  feast,  it  was  hard  to  begin  again  on  the  march  with 
baking-powder  biscuit  and  tough  beef.  The  cattle  that 
supplied  us  with  meat  were  driven  along  on  the  march, 
and  killed  every  other  day,  and  could  not  be  expected 
to  be  in  very  good  condition.  The  interest  of  our 
journey,  however,  made  us  soon  forget  all  deprivations. 
Grateful  sentiments  towards  those  who  had  been  sc 
kind  to  us  as  strangers  remained  as  a  memory. 


ADVENTUKES— THE  LAST  DAYS  OF  THE  MaKCH.    73 


CHAPTER  VIL 

ADVENTURES   DURING  TUE  LAST  DAYS  OF  THE  MARCHo 

My  husband  and  I  kept  up  onr  little  detours  by  our- 
selves as  we  neared  tlie  hour  for  camping  each  day. 
One  day  one  of  the  officers  accompanied  us.  We  left 
the  higher  ground  to  go  down  by  the  water  and  have 
the  luxury  of  wandering  through  the  cottonwood-trces 
that  sometimes  fringed  the  river  for  several  miles.  As 
usual,  we  had  a  number  of  dogs  leaping  and  racing 
around  us.  Two  of  them  started  a  deer,  and  tlie  genera), 
bounded  after  them,  encouraging  the  others  with  his 
voice  to  follow.  lie  had  left  his  friend  with  me,  and 
we  rode  leisurely  along  to  see  that  the  younger  dogs 
did  not  get  lost.  Without  the  least  warning,  in  the 
dead  stillness  of  that  desolate  spot,  we  suddenly  came 
upon  a  group  of  young  Indian  warriors  seated  in  tlieir 
motionless  way  in  the  underbrush.  I  became  perfectly 
cold  and  numb  with  terror.  My  danger  in  connection 
with  the  Indians  was  twofold.  I  was  in  peril  from 
death  or  capture  by  the  savages,  and  liable  to  be  killed 
by  my  own  friends  to  prevent  my  captui'c.  During  the 
live  years  I  had  been  with  the  regiment  in  Kansas  I  had 
marched  many  hundred  miles.  Sometimes  I  had  to 
join  my  husband  going  across  a  dangerous  country,  aiKl 
the  exposure  from  Indians  all  those  years  had  been  con 

4 


74  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 

stant.  I  had  been  a  subject  of  conversation  among  the 
officers,  being  the  only  woman  who,  as  a  rule,  followed 
the  regiment,  and,  without  discussing  it  much  in  my 
presence,  the  universal  understanding  was  that  any  one 
having  me  in  charge  in  an  emergency  where  there  was 
imminent  danger  of  my  capture  should  shoot  me  in- 
stantly. While  I  knew  that  I  was  defended  by  strong 
hands  and  brave  hearts,  the  thought  of  the  double 
danger  always  flashed  into  my  mind  when  we  were  in 
jeopardy. 

If  time  could  have  been  measured  by  sensations,  a 
cycle  seemed  to  have  passed  in  those  few  seconds. 
The  Indians  snatched  up  their  guns,  leaped  upon  their 
ponies,  and  prepared  for  attack.  The  officer  with  me 
was  perfectly  cahn,  spoke  to  them  coolly  without  a 
change  of  voice,  and  rode  quicklj^  beside  me,  telling  me 
to  advance.  My  horse  reared  violently  at  first  sight  of 
the  Indians,  and  started  to  run.  Gladly  would  I  have 
put  him  to  his  mettle  then,  except  for  the  instinct  of 
obedience,  which  any  one  following  a  regiment  acquires 
in  all  that  pertains  to  military  directions.  The  gen- 
eral was  just  visible  ascending  a  bluff  beyond.  To  avoid 
showing  fear  when  every  nerve  is  strung  to  its  utmost, 
and  your  heart  leaps  into  your  throat,  requires  super- 
human effort.  I  nianaged  to  check  my  horse  and  did 
not  scream.  No  amount  of  telling  over  to  myself  what 
[  had  been  told,  that  all  the  tribes  on  this  side  were 
peaceable  and  that  only  those  on  the  other  side  of  the 
river  were  W'arlike,  could  quell  the  tlirobbing  of  my 
pulses.  Indians  were  Indians  to  me,  and  I  knew  well 
that  it  was  a  matter  of  no  time  to  cross  and  recross  on 


ADVENTURES— TUE   LAST   DAYS  OF   TiiE   MARCH.         75 

theii-  little  tub-like  boats  that  shoot  madly  down  the 
tide. 

Wliat  made  me  sure  that  these  warriors  whom  we  had 
just  met  were  from  the  fighting  bands  was  the  recollec- 
tion of  some  significant  signs  we  had  come  upon  in  the 
road  a  few  da3-s  previous.  Stakes  had  been  set  in  the 
ground,  with  bits  of  red  flannel  fastened  on  them  pecul- 
iarly. This,  the  guide  explained,  meant  warnings  from 
the  tribes  at  war  to  frighten  us  from  any  further  ad- 
vance into  their  country.  Whether  because  of  the  cool- 
ness of  the  ofiicer,  or  because  the  warriors  knew  of  the 
size  of  the  advancing  column,  we  were  allowed  to  pro- 
ceed unharmed.  How  interminable  the  distance  seemed 
to  where  the  general  awaited  us,  unconscious  of  what 
we  had  encountered  1  I  was  lifted  out  of  the  saddle  a 
very  limp  and  unconscious  thing. 

Encouraged  by  references  to  other  dangers  I  had  lived 
through  without  flinching,  I  mounted  again  and  followed 
the  leader  closely.  He  took  us  through  some  rough 
country,  where  the  ambitious  horses,  finding  that  by 
bending  their  heads  they  could  squeeze  through,  forgot 
to  seek  openings  high  enough  to  admit  those  sitting  in 
the  saddle.  We  crashed  through  underbrush,  and  I,  with 
habit  torn  and  hands  scratched,  was  sometimes  almost 
lifted  up,  Absalom-like,  by  the  resisting  branches.  Often 
we  had  no  path,  and  the  general's  horse,  "Yic,"  would 
start  straight  up  steep  banks  after  we  had  forded  streams. 
It  never  occurred  to  his  rider,  until  after  the  ascent  was 
made,  and  a  faint  voice  arose  from  the  valley,  that  all 
liorses  would  not  do  willingly  what  his  thorough-bred  did. 
lie  finally  turned  to  look  back  and  tell  me  how  to  manage 


76  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

mj  horse.  I  abandoned  the  bridle  when  we  came  to 
those  ascents,  and  wound  my  hands  in  tlie  horse's  mane 
to  keep  from  sliding  entirely  off,  while  the  animal  took 
his  own  way.  All  this  was  such  variety  and  excitement 
I  was  delighted,  and  forgot  my  terror  of  the  morning. 

We  found  a  bit  of  lovely  road,  which  only  those  who 
go  hundreds  of  miles  under  a  blazing  sun  can  appreci- 
ate fully.  The  sunshine  came  flickering  down  through 
the  branches  of  the  trees  and  covered  the  short  grass 
with  checkered  light  and  shade.  Here  we  dawdled,  and 
enjoyed  looking  up  at  tlie  patches  of  blue  sky  through 
great  grown-up  tree-tops.  It  was  like  a  bit  of  woods  at 
home,  where  I  never  thought  to  be  grateful  for  foliage, 
but  took  it  as  a  matter  of  course.  My  husband  remem- 
bered my  having  put  some  biscuit  in  the  leather  pocket 
on  my  saddle,  and  invited  himself  to  luncheon  at  once. 
We  dismounted,  and  threw  ourselves  on  tlie  ground  to 
eat  the  very  frugal  fare. 

After  resting,  we  gave  ourselves  the  privilege  of  a 
swift  gallop  over  the  stretch  of  smootii  ground  before 
us.  AVe  were  laughing  and  talking  so  busily  I  never 
noticed  the  surroundings  until  I  found  we  were  almost 
in  the  midst  of  an  Indian  village,  quite  hidden  under  a 
bluff.  My  heart  literally  stood  still.  I  watched  the 
general  furtively.  He  was  as  usual  perfectly  immoved, 
and  yet  he  well  knew  that  this  was  the  country  where  it 
was  hardly  considered  that  the  Indian  was  overburdened 
with  hospitality.  Oh,  how  I  wished  ourselves  safely 
with  the  column,  now  so  far  away!  There  were  but 
few  occupants  of  the  village,  but  they  glowered  and 
growled,  and  I  could  see  the  venonunis  glances  thev 


ADVENTURES— THE  LAST  DAYS  OF  TUE  MARCH.    77 

cast  on  US  as  I  meekly  followed.  I  trembled  so  I  could 
barely  keep  my  seat  as  we  slowly  advanced,  for  the  gen- 
eral even  slackened  his  speed,  to  demonstrate  to  them, 
I  suppose,  that  we  felt  ourselves  perfectly  at  home. 
lie  said  "  How,"  of  course,  which  was  his  usual  saluta- 
tion to  them.  An  echoing  "how"  beside  him  proved 
that  I  still  had  power  of  utterance.  When  we  came  to 
one  Indian,  who  looked  menacingly  at  us  and  doggedly 
stood  in  our  road,  the  officer  with  us  declared  that  I 
accompanied  my  "how"  with  a  salaam  so  deep  that  it 
bent  my  head  down  to  the  pommel  of  my  saddle!  At 
all  events,  I  meant,  if  politeness  would  propitiate,  not  to 
be  deficient  in  that  quality  at  such  a  critical  moment. 

In  a  few  moments,  which  seemed  however  a  lifetime, 
we  saw  the  reason  why  the  village  appeared  so  empt}'. 
Men,  women,  and  children  had  gone  nearly  to  the  top 
of  the  bluff,  and  there,  with  their  bodies  hidden,  were 
looking  off  at  a  faint  cloud  of  dust  in  the  distance. 

My  husband,  appreciating  my  terror,  quickly  assured 
me  it  was  the  7th  Cavahy,  Even  then,  what  a  stretch 
of  country  it  seemed  between  us  and  that  blessed  veil 
of  sand,  through  which  we  perceived  dimly  that  succor 
was  at  hand. 

My  horse  was  rather  given  to  snuggling,  and  pressed 
60  against  the  general  that  he  made  his  leg  very  uncom- 
fortable sometimes.  But  then,  in  my  terror,  it  seemed 
to  me  an  ocean  of  space  was  dividing  us.  I  longed  for 
the  old  Puritan  days,  when  a  wife  rode  on  a  pillion  be- 
hind her  liege  as  a  matter  of  course. 

I  found  courage  to  look  back  at  last.  The  bluff  was 
crav.-ned  with  little  irregularities,  so  still  they  seemed 


78  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

like  tufts  of  grass  or  stones.  They  represented  many 
pairs  of  bead-like  eyes,  that  peered  over  the  country  at 
the  advancing  troops. 

The  next  day  tlie  general  thought  I  might  rather  not 
go  with  him  than  run  the  risk  of  such  frights ;  but  I 
well  knew  there  was  something  far  worse  than  fears  for 
my  own  personal  safety.  It  is  infinitely  worse  to  be 
left  behind,  a  prey  to  all  the  horrors  of  imagining  what 
may  be  happening  to  one  we  love.  You  cat  your  heart 
slowly  out  witli  anxiety,  and  to  endure  such  suspense 
is  simply  the  hardest  of  all  trials  that  come  to  the  sol- 
dier's wife. 

I  gladly  consented  to  be  taken  along  every  day,  but 
there  never  seemed  a  time  when  it  was  not  necessary  to 
get  accustomed  to  some  new  terror.  However,  it  is 
only  the  getting  used  to  it  that  is  so  bad.  It  is  the 
unexpected  things  that  require  fresh  relays  of  courage. 
Wiien  a  woman  has  come  out  of  danger,  she  is  too  utterly 
a  coward  by  nature  not  to  dread  eiKinring  the  same  thing 
again  ;  but  it  is  something  to  know  that  she  is  ecpial  to 
it.  Though  she  may  tremble  and  grow  faint  in  antici- 
pation, having  once  been  through  it,  she  can  count  0}i 
rising  to  the  situation  when  the  hour  actually  comes. 

The  rattlesnakes  were  so  numerous  on  this  march  that 
all  Texas  and  Kansas  experience  seemed  to  dwarf  in 
contrast.  My  horse  was  over  sixteen  hands  high,  but 
I  would  gladly  have  excliangcd  him  for  a  canielopard 
when  I  rode  sudden!}^  almost  upon  a  snake  coiled  in  the 
grass,  and  looked  down  into  the  eyes  of  the  upi-aised 
head.  We  counted  those  we  encountered  in  one  day's 
journey  until  we  were  tired.      Tiie  men  became  very 


ADVENTURES— THE   LAST  DAYS   OF  THE   MARCH.         79 

expert  and  systematic  in  clearing  the  camp  of  these 
reptiles.  If  we  halted  at  night  in  the  underbrush,  they 
cat  and  tore  a\vaj  the  reeds  and  grass,  and  began  at 
once  to  beat  the  ground  and  kill  the  snakes.  When  I 
say  that  as  many  as  forty  were  killed  in  one  night,  some 
literal  person  may  ask  if  I  actually  saw  the  bodies  of 
all  those  "  lately  slain  !"  It  is  not  an  exaggerated  storj^, 
however,  and  one  only  needs  to  see  hundreds  of  men 
pounding  and  clearing  such  a  place  to  realize  that  many 
snakes  could  be  disposed  of  in  a  short  time.  After 
that,  when  the  ground  was  selected  for  our  camp  in  the 
low  part  of  the  valley,  I  was  loatli  to  lie  down  and  sleep 
until  the  soldiers  had  come  up  to  prepare  the  ground. 
My  husband  used  to  indulge  this  little  prejudice  of  mine 
against  making  my  head  a  reproduction  of  Medusa's, 
and  we  often  souglit  the  high  ground  for  a  rest  until  the 
command  came  up. 

The  guide  rode  often  at  the  head  of  the  column,  and 
wc  found  him  full  of  information  about  the  country. 
We  began  also  to  listen  for  a  new  domestic  disclosure 
every  time  we  approached  an  Indian  village.  lie  was 
the  most  married  of  any  man  I  ever  saw,  for  in  every 
tribe  he  had  a  wife.  Still  this  superfluity  did  not  burden 
him,  for  the  ceremony  of  tying  a  marital  knot  in  the 
far  West  is  simple,  and  the  wives  support  themselves. 
Sometimes  he  gave  us  new  points  about  making  our- 
selves comfortable  in  camp.  One  day  I  was  very  grate- 
ful to  him.  We  were  far  in  advance  of  the  wagon-train 
containing  the  tents  ;  the  sun  was  scorching;  not  a  tree, 
nor  even  a  clump  of  bushes  was  near.  In  a  brief  time, 
however,  the  guide  had  returned  from  the  stream,  whcro 


80  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 

he  had  cut  some  willow  saplings,  and  sticking  thein  in 
the  ground  made  what  he  called  "  wik-a-np."  lie  wove 
the  ends  loosely  togetlier  on  top,  and  over  this  oval 
cover  he  threw  the  saddle  blankets.  There  was  just 
room  enough  to  crawl  into  this  oven-like  place,  but  it 
was  an  escape  from  the  heat  of  the  sun,  and  I  was  soon 
asleep.  After  I  emerged  the  general  took  my  place. 
"When  he  had  taken  his  nap  the  dogs  crept  in  ;  so  a  very 
grateful  family  thanked  the  guide  for  teaching  us  that 
new  device. 

The  bends  in  the  Missouri  River  are  sometimes  so 
long  that  the  steamer  with  supplies  would  have  to  make 
a  journey  of  sixty  miles  while  we  had  perhaps  only  five 
to  march  across  the  peninsula.  All  the  soldiers,  officers' 
servants,  teamsters,  and  other  citizen  employes  took 
that  time  to  wash  their  clothes,  for  we  were  two  days  in 
camp.  The  creek  on  which  we  halted  was  lined  with 
bending  figures,  their  arms  moving  vigorously  back  and 
forth  as  they  wrung  out  each  article.  Later  on  the 
camp  looked  like  an  animated  laundry.  From  every 
tent-rope  and  bush  floated  the  apparel.  I  had  only  a 
small  valise  for  my  summer's  outfit,  but  Mary  had  soon 
taken  out  our  few  things,  and  around  the  kitchen-tent 
was  suspended  the  family  linen.  As  soon  as  this  was 
dry  she  folded  and  pressed  it  as  best  she  could,  and 
laid  it  between  the  mattresses  as  a  substitute  for 
ironing. 

All  the  way  up  the  river  the  guide  was  constantly  in- 
terviewed as  to  the  chances  for  fishing.  lie  held  out 
promises  that  were  to  be  realized  upon  reaching  Choteau 
Creek.     "We  arrived  there  on  one  of  the  resting -daj-s, 


ADVENTURES— THE   LAST   DAYS  OF   THE   MARCR.        81 

and  camp  was  no  sooner  made,  and  food  and  water 
brought,  tlmn  a  great  exodus  took  place. 

The  general  called  me  to  the  tent -door  to  see  the 
deserted  camp,  and  wondered  how  the  soldiers  could  all 
have  disappeared  so  quickly.  Another  problem  was, 
where  the  tishing-tackle  came  from !  Some  had  brought 
rods,  even  in  the  restricted  space  allotted  them,  but  many 
cut  them  from  the  bushes  along  the  river,  attaching 
hooks  and  lines,  while  some  bent  pins  and  tied  them  to 
strings.  The  soldiers  shared  so  generously  with  one  an- 
other that  one  pole  was  loaned  about  while  the  idle  ones 
watched.  I  never  cared  for  fishing,  but  my  husband 
begged  me  to  go  with  him  always,  and  carried  my  book 
and  work.  I  sat  nnder  a  bush  near  him,  which  he 
covered  with  a  shawl  to  protect  me  from  the  sun,  and 
there  we  stayed  for  hours.  Officers  and  men  competed 
alike  for  the  best  places  by  the  quiet  pools.  The  gen- 
eral could  hardly  pay  attention  to  his  line,  he  was  so  in- 
terested watching  the  men  and  enjoying  their  pleasure. 
His  keen  sense  of  the  ludicrous  took  in  the  comical 
figures  as  far  as  we  could  see.  In  cramped  and  nncom- 
fortable  positions,  with  earnest  eyes  fixed  steadily  in 
one  place  for  hours,  they  nearly  fell  into  the  water  with 
excitement  if  they  chanced  to  draw  out  a  tiny  fish. 
The  other  men  came  from  all  along  the  bank  to  observe 
if  any  one  was  successful. 

One  of  the  men  near  us  was  a  member  of  the  band. 
He  was  a  perfect  reproduction  of  the  old  prints  of  Izaak 
Walton.  The  fixedness  of  liis  gaze — his  whole  soul  in 
his  eyes — while  he  was  utterly  unconscious  of  any  one 
being  near,  was  too  much  for  the  generars  equanimity. 

4- 


83  BOOTS   AND   SADDLES. 

lie  put  his  head  under  tlie  canopy  made  by  my  shawl, 
not  daring  to  hiugh  aloud,  for  fear  he  might  be  heard 
by  the  man,  and  said  it  was  more  fun  to  see  that  soldier 
fish  than  to  hear  him  play  on  the  violin.  Xo  wonder  the 
men  enjoyed  the  sport,  for  even  these  little  bull-fish, 
fairly  gritty  from  tlie  muddy  water  in  which  they  lived, 
were  a  great  addition  to  their  pork  and  hard-tack  fare. 

For  once  the  sun  overcame  me,  and  I  knew  the  ig- 
nominy of  being  compelled  to  own  that  I  was  dizzy  and 
faint.  I  had  not  been  long  in  military  life  before  I  was 
as  much  ashamed  of  being  ill  as  if  I  had  been  a  real  sol- 
dier. The  troops  pride  themselves  on  being  invulnera- 
ble to  bodily  ailments.  I  was  obliged  to  submit  to  being 
helped  back  to  camp,  and  in  the  cool  of  the  evening 
watched  the  return  of  the  fishers,  who  were  as  proud  of 
the  strings  of  ugly  little  things  they  carried  as  if  they 
had  been  pickerel  or  bass.  Then  the  blue  flame  and 
soft  smoke  began  to  ascend  from  the  evening  fires,  and 
the  odor  from  the  frying  supper  rose  on  the  air. 

In  my  indolent,  weak  condition  I  never  knew  how  I 
was  able  to  perform  such  agile  pirouettes  as  I  did ;  but 
hearing  a  peculiar  sound,  I  looked  down  and  saw  a  huge 
rattlesnake  gliding  towards  mo.  I  had  long  ago  learned 
lo  suppress  shrieks,  but  I  forgot  all  such  self-control 
then.  How  I  wished  m.yself  the  Indian  baby  we  had 
seen  the  day  before  —  the  veritable  "baby  in  the  tree- 
top,"  for  it  was  tied  by  buckskin  thongs  to  a  limb! 
There  I  thought  I  could  rest  in  peace.  The  snake  was 
soon  despatched.  The  men  had  left  camp  so  hurriedly 
in  the  morning  that  the  usual  beating  of  the  ground 
was  omitted,  and  so  I  had  this  unwelcome  visitor. 


ADVENTURES— THE  LAST  DAYS  OF  TUE  MARCH.    83 

AVlien  we  camped  near  a  village,  the  Indians  soon 
appeared.  Groups  of  half  a  dozen  on  ponies,  with  chil- 
dren running  after,  would  come.  The  ponies  were,  most 
of  them,  dull  and  sway-backed.  It  was  no  wonder,  for 
I  have  seen  four  persons  on  one  ponj- — an  Indian  and 
three  half-grown  boys.  No  horse  could  keep  its  shape 
loaded  down,  as  those  of  the  Indians  usually  are,  with 
game  and  property.  These  visitors  grew  to  be  great 
trials,  for  they  were  inveterate  beggars.  One  day  an 
old  Indian,  called  "The-Man-with-the-Broken-Ear,"  came 
riding  in,  elaborately  decorated  and  on  a  shapely  pony. 
He  demanded  to  see  the  chief.  The  general  appeared, 
sted  him  to  dismount,  and  seated  him  in  my  camp- 
chair.  The  savage  leaned  back  in  a  grand  sort  of  man- 
ner and  calmly  surveyed  us  all.  I  was  soon  in  agonies 
(if  anxiety,  for  Colonel  Tom  and  the  young  officers 
lounging  near  entered  the  tent.  They  bowed  low,  took 
the  hand  of  the  old  fellow  with  profound  deference,  and, 
smiling  benignly,  addressed  him.  In  just  as  suave  a 
voice  as  if  their  words  had  been  genuine  flattery,  they 
said,  "  You  confounded  old  galoot,  why  are  you  here 
begging  and  thieving,  when  your  wretched  old  hands 
are  hardly  dry  from  some  murder,  and  your  miserable 
mouth  still  red  from  eating  the  heart  of  your  enemy?" 
Each  one  saluted  him,  and  each  vied  with  the  other  in 
pouring  forth  a  tirade  of  forcible  expletives,  to  which 
he  bowed  in  acknowledgment  and  shook  hands.  My 
terror  M'as  that  he  might  understand,  for  wo  often 
found  these  people  as  cunning  as  foxes,  sitting  stolid 
and  stupid,  pretending  not  to  know  a  word,  while  they 
understood  the  gist  of  much  that  was  said. 


84  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

The  officers  gave  this  chief  tobacco — Periqiie  I  think 
it  is  called — and  so  strong  that,  tliongh  I  was  accustomed 
to  all  kinds,  I  rather  avoided  the  odor  of  it.  We  had 
no  whiskey,  but  if  wo  had  kept  it,  the  general  obeyed 
the  law  of  the  reservation  too  strictly  to  allow  it  to  be 
given  awa}'.  lie  was  called  to  the  otiice-tent  a  few 
moments,  and  in  a  trice  one  of  the  others  had  emptied 
the  alcohol  from  the  spirit-lamp  and  offered  the  cup  to 
the  distinguished  guest.  Putting  the  great  square  of 
Perique  into  his  mouth,  with  a  biscuit  beside,  he  w^ashed 
it  all  down  with  gulps  of  the  burning  fluid.  His  eyes, 
heretofore  dull,  sparkled  at  the  sight  of  the  fire-water. 
The  officers  said,  "How,"  and  he  replied,  "How." 
This  did  not  surprise  me,  for  that  one  word  is  the  In- 
dian toast,  and  all  tribes  know  it.  But  my  breath  almost 
went  out  of  my  body  when  they  asked  him  if  he  would 
have  more,  and  he  replied,  "  You  bet."  I  was  sure  then 
that  he  had  understood  all  the  railing  speeches  and  that 
he  would  plan  a  revenge.  Loud  cries  of  laughter  greet- 
ed his  reply;  but  matching  their  cunning  against  his, 
they  eventually  found  that  he  knew  no  more  English. 
He  had  learned  tliese  words,  without  understanding 
their  meaning,  at  the  trader's  store  on  the  reserva- 
tion. He  waited  around  in  the  tent,  hoping  for  more 
alcohol,  until  I  was  weary  of  the  sight  of  him  ;  but 
I  was  too  much  afraid  of  him,  limp  as  he  then  was,  to 
look  bored. 

Finally  he  was  lifted  out,  a  tumbled  up,  disorganized 
heap  of  drooping  feathers,  trailing  blanket,  and  demor- 
alized legs.  When  once,  however,  one  drunken  old  foot 
was  lifted  over  the  pony  for  him,  he  swung  himself  into 


ADVENTUEES— THE   LAST   DAYS   OF   THE   MARCII.        85 

the  saddle,  a,nd  tliongli  swaying  iincertainl}',  he  man- 
aged to  ride  awaj. 

During  the  last  days  of  our  march  we  came  upon  an- 
other premonitory  w^arniiig  from  the  Indians.  A  pole 
was  found  stuck  in  the  trail  before  us,  with  a  red  liag, 
to  which  were  fastened  locks  of  hair.  It  was  a  chal- 
lenge, and  when  interpreted  meant,  that  if  we  persisted 
in  advancing,  the  hostiles  were  ready  to  meet  the  sol- 
diers and  fight  them.  The  officers  paid  little  attention 
to  this,  but  my  heart  was  like  lead  for  days  afterwards. 

We  encamped  that  night  near  what  the  Indians  call 
''Medicine  Kock ;"  my  husband  and  I  walked  out  to 
see  it.  It  was  a  large  stone,  showing  on  the  flat  sur- 
face the  impress  of  hands  and  feet  made  ages  ago,  be- 
fore the  clay  was  petrified.  The  Indians  had  tied  bags 
of  their  herb  medicine  on  poles  about  the  rock,  believ- 
ing that  virtue  would  enter  into  articles  left  in  the 
vicinity  of  this  proof  of  the  marvels  or  miracles  of  the 
Great  Spirit.  Tin  cans,  spoons,  and  forks,  tliat  they  had 
bought  at  the  Agency,  on  account  of  the  brightness  of 
the  metal,  were  left  there  as  offerings  to  an  unseen  God. 

Everything  pertaining  to  the  Indians  was  new  and 
interesting  to  me.  While  we  were  in  Kansas  the  tribes 
were  at  war,  and  we  had  not  the  opportunity  to  see 
their  daily  life  as  we  did  while  passing  through  the 
Sioux  reservations  on  the  march. 

I  regretted  each  day  that  brought  us  nearer  to  the 
conclusion  of  our  journey,  for  though  I  had  been  fright- 
ened by  Indians,  and  though  we  had  encountered  cold, 
storms,  and  rough  life,  the  pleasures  of  the  trip  over- 
balanced the  discomforts. 


86  BOOTS  A^D  SADDLED. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

SEPAEATION   AND   EEUNION. 

The  day  at  last  came  for  onr  luareli  of  live  Imiidred 
miles  to  terminate.  A  rickety  old  ferryboat  that  took 
lis  over  the  river  made  a  halt  near  Fort  Eice,  and  tliere 
we  established  ourselves.  Strange  to  say,  the  river  was 
no  narrower  there  than  it  was  so  many  hundred  miles 
below,  where  we  started.  Muddy  and  full  of  sand-bars 
as  it  was,  we  began  bravely  to  drink  the  water,  when 
the  glass  had  been  filled  long  enough  for  the  sediment 
partially  to  settle,  and  to  take  our  bath  in  what  at  first 
seemed  liquid  mud.  We  learned  after  a  time  to  settle 
the  water  with  alum,  and  we  finally  became  accustomed 
to  the  taste. 

The  commandant  at  Fort  Eice  was  most  hospitable, 
and  his  wife  charming.  The  quarters  were  very  ordi- 
nary frame  buildings,  with  no  modern  improvements. 
Tiiey  were  painted  a  funereal  tint,  but  one  Avarranted  to 
last.  The  interior  showed  the  presence  of  a  tasteful 
woman.  She  met  us  as  cheerfully  as  if  she  \vere  in  the 
luxurious  home  from  which  we  knew  she  had  gone  as 
a  girl  to  follow  a  soldier's  life.  Contrast  often  helps  us 
to  endure,  and  Dakota  was  not  so  bad  as  their  last  sta- 
tion in  Arizona.  Tlie  dinner  was  excellent,  and  our 
entertainers  v/crc  the  hapjiy  possessors  of  a  good  cook. 


SEPARATlOxX   AND   REUNION.  87 

Karely  do  army  people  have  two  good  servants  at  the 
same  time  on  the  frontier.  Our  host  and  hostess  made 
no  apologies,  but  quietly  waited  on  the  table  theni- 
aelves,  and  a  merry  time  we  had  over  the  blunders  of 
the  head  of  the  house,  who  was  a  distinguished  general, 
in  his  endeavors  to  find  necessary  dishes  in  the  china 
closet. 

A  steamer  that  arrived  a  day  or  two  after  we  had 
reached  Fort  llice  brought  the  regimental  property, 
consisting  of  everything  that  was  not  used  on  the  march. 
Our  liousehold  effects  and  trunks  were  delivered  to  us 
in  a  very  sovry  condition.  They  had  been  carelessly 
stored  on  the  wharf  at  Yankton,  near  the  government 
warehouse,  without  any  covering,  during  all  the  storms 
that  drenched  us  coming  up  the  river.  Almost  every- 
thing was  mildewed  and  ruined.  "We  tried  to  dry  our 
clothing  in  the  sun.  Many  a  little  bit  of  silken  finery 
that  we  had  cherished  since  our  marriage  days,  feeling 
sure  that  M-e  should  never  attain  to  such  grandeur  again, 
was  suspended  from  the  tent -ropes,  stained  and  dull. 
Our  sister's  husband  helped  her  to  unpack  her  clothes 
and  his  own  soaked  uniform.  lie  was  dignified  and  re- 
served by  nature,  but  on  that  occasion  the  barriers  were 
broken.  I  heard  hi  in  ask  Margaret  to  excuse  him  while 
ho  went  outside  the  tent  to  make  some  remarks  to  him- 
self that  he  felt  the  occasion  demanded.  There  were 
furious  people  on  all  sides,  and  savage  speeches  about 
the  thoughtlessness  of  those  who  had  left  our  property 
exposed  to  snow  and  rain,  when  wo  were  no  longer 
there  to  care  for  it.  I  endured  everything  until  my 
pretty  wedding-dress  Vv'as  taken  out,  crushed  and  spotted 


88  BOOTS   AND   SADDLES. 

with  mildew.  My  husband  had  great  control  over  him- 
self in  the  small  annoj'ances  of  life,  and  w^as  able  to  re- 
peat again  the  proverb  he  had  adopted  in  his  boyhood, 
"  I^ever  cry  for  spilled  milk."  How  he  could  submit 
so  quietly,  when  he  took  out  his  prized  books  and  the 
few  pictures  I  knevv'  that  he  valued,  was  a  mystery. 

All  thought  began  now  to  centre  on  the  coming  events 
of  the  summer.  It  was  decided  that  the  regin]ent  was 
to  go  out  to  guard  the  engineers  of  the  Northern  Pacific 
Kailroad  while  they  surveyed  the  route  from  Bismarck 
to  the  Yellowstone  Kiver.  The  ladies  necessarily  were 
to  be  left  behind.  Now  began  the  summer  of  my  dis- 
content. I  longed  to  remain  in  Dakota,  for  I  knew  it 
would  take  much  longer  for  our  letters  to  reach  us  if 
we  went  East.  Besides,  it  was  far  more  comforting  to 
stay  at  a  military  post,  where  every  one  was  interested 
in  the  expedition,  and  talked  about  it  as  the  chief  topic 
of  concern.  I  remembered  when  I  had  gone  East  be- 
fore, during  a  summer  when  our  regiment  was  fighting 
Indians,  and  my  idea  was  that  the  v.'hole  country  would 
be  almost  as  absorbed  as  we  were,  how  shocked  I  wa? 
to  be  asked,  when  I  spoke  of  the  regiment,  "Ah,  is  there 
a  campaign,  and  for  what  purpose  has  it  gone  out?" 

I  was  willing  to  live  in  a  tent  alone  at  the  post,  bu^ 
there  were  not  even  tents  to  be  had.  Then  we  all 
looked  with  envious  eyes  at  the  quarters  at  Fort  Rice. 
The  post  was  small,  and  there  were  no  vacant  rooms  ex- 
cept in  the  bachelor  quarters.  These  are  so  called  when 
the  unmarried  men  take  rooms  in  the  same  house  and 
mess  together.  No  opportunity  was  given  us  to  wheedle 
them  into  offering  us  a  place.      Our  oflicers  liinted  to 


SEPARATION  AND   REUNION.  89 

them,  but  tbey  seemed  to  be  completely  intimidated  re- 
garding^ women.  They  received  an  honest  and  emphatic 
"no"  when  they  asked  if  the  ladies  of  the  7th  Cavalry 
quarrelled.  Even  then  these  warj^  men  said  "  they  did 
not  dare  to  offer  to  take  in  any  women."  They  added 
that  there  were  but  three  in  the  post,  and  no  two  of 
them  spoke  to  each  other.  They  thought  if  we  were 
asked  to  remain  it  might  bo  the  history  of  the  Kilkenny 
cats  repeated,  and  they  were  obdurate. 

There  was  nothing  left  for  us,  then,  but  to  go  liome. 
It  was  a  sore  disappointment.  We  were  put  on  the 
steamer  that  was  to  take  us  to  Bismarck,  a  heart-broken 
little  group.  I  hated  Dakota,  the  ugly  river,  and  even 
my  native  land.  AVe  were  nearly  devoured  with  mos- 
qniloes  at  once.  Only  the  strongest  ammonia  on  our 
face's  and  hands  served  to  alleviate  the  torment.  The 
journey  was  wretchedness  itself.  I  had  thrown  myself 
on  the  berth  in  one  of  the  little  suffocating  state-rooms, 
exhausted  with  weeping,  and  too  utterly  overcome  with 
the  anguish  of  parting  to  know  much  of  the  surround- 
ings. I  was  roused  by  the  gentle  hand  of  a  woman, 
who  had  forgotten  her  own  troubles  to  come  to  me. 
Ah,  even  now,  when  the  tears  rain  down  my  face  at  the 
remembrance  of  those  agonizing  good-byes,  which  were 
like  death  each  time,  and  which  grew  harder  with  each 
separation,  I  think  of  the  sympathy  shown  me.  The 
sweet,  tender  eyes  of  the  wives  of  officers  come  to  me 
now,  and  I  feel  the  soft  touch  of  their  hands  as  they 
came  to  comfort  me,  even  when  their  own  hearts  were 
wrung.  Grief  is  so  selfish,  I  \v'ondcr  now  that  they  could 
have  been  such  ministerins;  angels. 


90  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

At  last  the  slow,  wearisome  journey  was  over,  and 
we  went  into  the  little  town  of  Bismarck  to  take  tlie 
cars.  The  Department  Commander,  returning  to  his 
head-quarters,  had  offered  to  take  charge  of  us  to  St. 
Paul,  and  was  kind  enough  to  share  with  us  the  car  of 
the  President  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Pailroad,  which 
liad  been  placed  at  his  disposal.  There  were  seven  of 
us  and  his  own  personal  staff.  Another  five  hundred 
miles  were  before  us,  but  in  such  luxury  it  hardly 
seemed  that  my  sister  and  I  were  the  same  two  who 
had  been  "roughing  it"  on  the  march  a  few  days  before. 

The  journey  was  very  quiet  and  over  an  uninteresting 
country,  but  we  ladies  had  something  to  occupy  our 
time,  as  we  began  to  prepare  some  of  our  meals,  for  the 
untidy  eating-houses  on  the  road  were  almost  unendur- 
able. The  staff  of  the  Commanding  General  went  out 
at  the  stations  and  foraged  for  what  food  they  could  find 
to  add  to  our  bill  of  fare.  At  St.  Paul  we  bade  them 
all  good-bj^e,  and  soon  found  ourselves  welcomed  by  dear 
father  and  mother  Custer,  at  Monroe.  Their  hearts  were 
ever  with  the  absent  ones. 

For  several  slow,  irksome  months  I  did  little  else 
than  wait  for  the  tardy  mails,  and  count  each  day  that 
passed  a  gain.  I  had  very  interesting  letters  from 
my  husband,  sometimes  thirty  and  forty  pages  in 
length.  lie  wrote  of  his  delight  at  having  again  his 
whole  regiment  with  him,  his  interest  in  the  country, 
his  hunting  exploits,  and  the  renewal  of  his  friendship 
with  General  Ilosser.  The  7th  Cavalry  were  sent  out 
to  guard  the  engineers  of  the  Northern  Pacific,  while 
they  surveyed  the  route  to  the  Yellowstone.    This  party 


SEPARATION   AND   REUNION.  91 

of  citizens  joined  the  command  a  few  days  out  from 
Fort  Rice.  The  general  wrote  me  that  he  was  Ijiiii? 
on  the  buffalo-robe  in  his  tent,  resting  after  the  marcli, 
when  he  heard  a  voice  outside  asking  the  sentinel  which 
was  General  Custer's  tent.  The  general  called  out, 
"Halloo,  old  fellow!  I  haven't  heard  that  voice  in 
thirteen  years,  but  I  know  it.     Come  in  and  welcome!" 

General  Rosser  walked  in,  and  such  a  reunion  as  they 
Iiad  !  Tliese  two  liad  been  classmates  and  warm  friends 
at  West  Point,  and  parted  with  sorrow  when  General 
Rosser  went  into  the  Southern  army.  Afterwards  they 
had  fought  each  other  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  time 
and  time  again.  Both  of  them  lay  on  the  robe  for 
liours  talking  over  the  campaigns  in  Yii-giiiia.  In  the 
varying  fortunes  of  war,  sometimes  one  had  got  posses- 
sion of  the  wao^on-train  beloniriuir  to  the  other.  I  knew 
of  several  occasions  when  they  had  captured  each  oth- 
er's head-quarters  wagons  with  the  private  luggage.  If 
one  drove  the  other  back  in  retreat,  before  he  went  into 
camp  lie  wrote  a  note  addressing  the  other  as  "dear 
friend,"  and  saying,  "j-ou  may  have  made  me  take  a 
few  steps  this  way  to-day,  but  I'll  be  even  witli  you  to- 
morrow. Please  accept  my  good-wishes  and  tliis  little 
gift."  These  notes  and  ])resents  were  left  at  the  house 
of  some  Southern  woman,  as  they  retreated  out  of  the 
village. 

Once  General  Custer  took  all  of  his  friend's  luggage, 
and  found  in  it  a  new  uniform  coat  of  Confederate 
gray.  He  wrote  a  humoi'ous  letter  that  night  thanking 
General  Rosser  for  setting  him  up  in  so  many  new 
things,  but  audaciously  asking  if  he  "  would  direct  his 


93  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

tailor  to  make  the  coat-tails  of  his  next  uniform  a  little 
shorter"  as  there  was  a  dillerence  in  the  height  of  the 
two  men.  General  Custer  captured  his  herd  of  cattle 
at  one  time,  but  he  was  so  hotlj  pursued  by  General 
Eosser  that  he  had  to  dismount,  cut  a  whip,  and  drive 
them  liiraself  until  they  were  secured. 

To  return  to  the  Yellowstone  expedition.  The  hour 
for  starting  never  varied  more  than  a  few  moments 
during  the  summer,  and  it  was  so  early  the  civilians 
connected  with  the  engineering  party  could  not  be- 
come reconciled,  to  it.  In  the  afternoon  my  husband 
sometimes  "walked  out  on  the  outskirts  of  camp,  and 
threw  himself  down  in  the  grass  to  rest  with  his  dogs 
beside  him. 

It  was  a  source  of  amusement  to  him  if  he  acciden- 
tally overheard  the  grumbling.  Ilis  campaigning  dress 
was  so  like  that  of  an  enlisted  man,  and  his  insignia  of 
rank  so  un noticeable,  that  the  tongues  ran  on,  indiffer- 
ent to  his  presence.  Sometimes,  in  their  growling,  the- 
civilians  accused  him  of  having  something  on  his  con- 
science, and  declared  that,  not  being  able  to  sleep  him- 
self, he  woke  every  one  else  to  an  uneai'thly  reveille. 
At  this  he  choked  with  laughter,  and  to  their  dismay 
they  discovered  who  he  was. 

I  remember  his  telling  me  of  another  occasion,  when 
he  unavoidably  heard  a  soldier  exclaim,  "  There  goes 
taps,  and  before  we  get  a  mouthful  to  eat,  reveille 
will  sound,  and  'Old  Curley'  will  hike  us  out  for  the 
march."  The  soldier  was  slightly  discomfited  to  find 
the  subject  of  his  remarks  was  within  hearing. 

The  enlisted  men  were  constantl}-  finding  new  names 


SErAKATION   AND   EE UNION.  £3 

for  the  genera],  which  I  would  never  have  known — 
thereby  losing  some  amnsement — if  Mary  had  not  occa- 
sionally told  me  of  them.  A  favorite  was  "Jack,"  the 
letters  G.  A.  C.  on  his  valise  having  served  as  a  sug- 
gestion. 

When  the  expedition  returned  from  the  Yellowstone, 
a  despatch  came  to  me  in  Michigan,  saying  the  regi- 
ment had  reached  Fort  Lincoln  in  safety.  Another  soon 
followed,  informing  me  that  my  husband  was  on  his 
way  home.  The  relief  from  constant  anxiety  and  sus- 
pense, together  with  all  the  excitement  into  which  I 
was  thrown,  made  me  almost  unfit  to  make  prepara- 
tion to  meet  him.  There  was  to  be  an  army  reunion 
in  the  city  nearest  us,  and  in  my  impatience  I  took 
the  first  train,  thinking  to  reach  there  in  advance  of 
General  Custer.  As  I  walked  along  the  street,  looking 
into  shop -windows,  I  felt,  rather  than  saw,  a  sudden 
rush  from  a  door,  and  I  was  taken  off  my  feet  and  set 
dancing  in  air.  Before  I  could  resent  what  I  thought 
was  an  indignity,  I  discovered  that  it  was  my  hus- 
band, who  seemed  utterly  regardless  of  the  passers-by. 
lie  was  sunburnt  and  mottled,  for  the  flesh  was  quite 
fair  where  he  had  cut  his  beard,  the  growth  of  the  sum- 
mer, lie  told  me  tlie  officers  with  whom  he  had  trav- 
elled in  the  Pullman  car  had  teased  him,  and  declared 
that  no  man  would  shave  in  a  car  going  at  forty  miles 
an  hour,  except  to  prepare  to  meet  his  sweetheart.  I 
was  deeply  grateful,  thougli,  for  I  knew  the  fiery  tint 
of  the  beard,  and  infinitely  preferred  the  variegated 
flesh  tints  of  his  sunburnt  face. 


94  BOOTS   AND   SADDLES. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

OUK   NEW    HOME   AT   FOKT   LINCOLN. 

In  a  few  daj's  "wc  were  ready  to  return  to  Dakota, 
and  very  glad  to  go,  except  for  leaving  the  old  parents. 

The  hardest  trial  of  my  husband's  life  was  parting 
with  liis  mother.  Sucli  partings  were  the  only  occa- 
sions when  I  ever  saw  him  lose  entire  control  of  him- 
self, and  I  always  looked  forward  to  the  hour  of  their 
separation  with  dread. 

For  honrs  before  we  started,  I  have  seen  him  follow 
liis  mother  about,  whispering  some  comforting  word 
to  her ;  or,  opening  the  closed  door  of  her  own  room, 
where,  womanlike,  she  fought  out  her  grief  alone,  sit 
beside  her  as  long  as  he  could  endure  it.  She  had  been 
an  invalid  for  so  many  years  that  each  parting  seemed 
to  her  the  final  one.  Her  groans  and  sobs  were  heart- 
rending. She  clung  to  him  every  step  when  he  started 
to  go,  and  exhausted  at  last,  was  led  back,  half  fainting, 
to  her  lounge. 

The  general  would  rush  out  of  the  house,  sobbing 
like  a  child,  and  then  throw  himself  into  the  carriage 
beside  me  completely  unnerved.  I  could  only  give  si- 
lent comfort.  My  heart  bled  for  him,  and  in  the  long 
silence  that  followed  as  we  journeyed  on,  I  knew  that 
Ills  thoughts  were  with  his  mother.     At  our  first  stop 


OUR  NEW  UOME   AT   FORT   LINCOLN.  So 

lie  was  out  of  the  cars  in  an  instant,  buying  fruit  to  send 
back  to  her.  Before  we  were  even  unpacked  in  the 
hotel,  where  we  made  our  first  stay  of  any  length,  he 
had  dashed  off  a  letter.  I  have  since  seen  those  mis- 
sives. No  matter  liow  hurriedly  he  wrote,  they  wei-e 
proofs  of  the  tenderest,  most  filial  love,  and  full  of  the 
prophecies  he  never  failed  to  make,  of  the  reunion  that 
he  felt  would  soon  come. 

After  long  debates  witliher  parents,  we  had  captured 
a  young  lady  who  was  to  return  with  us.  She  was  a 
"joy  forever,"  and  submitted  without  a  word  to  the 
rough  part  of  our  journey.  After  we  left  St.  Paul,  the 
usual  struggle  for  decent  food  began.  Some  of  the  of- 
ficers returning  from  leave  of  absence  liad  joined  us, 
and  we  made  as  merry  over  our  hardships  as  we  could. 
AVhen  we  entered  the  eating-houses,  one  young  mem- 
ber of  our  party,  whom  we  called  the  "butter  fiend," 
was  made  the  experimenter.  If  he  found  the  butter  too 
rancid  to  eat  undisguised,  he  gave  us  a  hint  by  saying, 
under  his  breath,  "  this  is  a  double-over  place."  That 
meant  that  we  must  put  a  layer  of  bread  on  top  of  the 
butter  to  smother  the  taste. 

The  general  was  so  sensitive  when  living  in  civiliza- 
tion that  the  heartiest  appetite  would  desert  him  if  an 
allusion  to  anything  unpleasant  or  a  reference  to  suffer- 
ing was  made  at  the  table.  But  he  never  seemed  to  be 
conscious  of  surroundings  when  "  roughing  it."  Of 
course  I  had  learned  to  harden  raj'self  to  almost  any- 
thing by  this  time,  but  I  can  see  the  wide-open  eyes 
of  our  girl  friend  when  she  saw  us  cat  all  around  any 
foreign  ingredients  wc  found  in  our  food.     She  nearly 


96  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 

starved  on  a  diet  consisting  of  the  interior  of  badlj- 
baked  potatoes  and  the  inside  of  soggy  rolls. 

One  of  the  eating -places  on  the  road  was  kept  in 
a  narrow  little  house,  built  on  a  flat  car.  Two  men 
presided,  one  cooking  and  the  other  waiting  on  the 
table.  "We  were  laboriously  spearing  our  food  with 
two  fined  forks,  and  sipping  the  muddy  coffee  with  a 
pewter  spoon,  when  I  heard  with  surprise  the  general 
asking  for  a  napkin.  It  seemed  as  foreign  to  the  place 
as  a  finger-bowl.  The  waiter  knew  him,  however,  and 
liked  him  too  well  to  refuse  him  anything;  so  he  said, 
•'  I  have  nothing  but  a  towel,  general."  "  Just  the  thing, 
just  the  thing,"  repeated  my  husband,  in  his  quick,  jol- 
ly way.  So  the  man  tied  a  long  crash  towel  under  his 
chin,  and  the  general  ate  on,  too  indifferent  to  appear- 
ances to  care  because  the  tableful  of  travellers  smiled. 

When  we  finally  reached  the  termination  of  the  road 
at  Bismarck,  another  train  was  about  starting  back  to 
St.  Paul.  The  street  was  full  of  people,  wildly  expost- 
ulating and  talking  loudly  and  fiercely.  It  appeared  that 
this  was  the  Last  train  of  the  season,  as  the  cars  were 
not  to  run  during  the  winter.  The  passengers  were 
mostly  Bismarck  citizens,  whose  lawless  life  as  gam- 
blers and  murderers  had  so  outraged  the  sentiments  of 
the  few  law-abiding  residents  that  they  had  forced  them 
to  depart.  We  could  see  these  outlav.'S  crowding  at  the 
door,  hanging  out  of  the  windows,  swearing  and  mena- 
cing, and  finally  firing  on  the  retreating  crowd  as  the 
cars  passed  out  of  town.  I  was  inclined  to  remain  a 
fixture  in  our  car;  to  step  down  into  such  a  mdce  was 
too  much  for  my  courage.     The  general  made  allow- 


OUR  NEW   HOME   AT   FORT  LIXCOLX.  97 

ance  for  my  fears,  and  we  were  cinietlj'-  slipped  out  on 
the  other  side  of  the  depot,  hurried  into  the  ambu- 
lance, and  driven  to  the  river. 

The  ice  was  already  thick  enough  to  bear  our  weight 
part  way  over;  then  came  a  swift  rushing  torrent  of 
water  which  had  to  be  crossed  in  a  small  boat.  Some 
of  the  soldiers  rowed,  while  one  kept  the  huge  cakes 
of  floating  ice  from  our  frail  boat  with  a  long,  iron- 
pointed  pole.  As  I  stepped  into  the  little  craft,  I 
dropped  upon  the  bottom  and  hid  my  eyes,  and  no 
amount  of  reference  to  dangers  I  had  encountered  be- 
fore induced  me  to  look  up.  The  current  of  the  Mis- 
souri is  so  swift  it  is  something  dreadful  to  encounter. 
We  were  lifted  out  upon  the  ice  again,  and  walked  to 
the  bank.  Once  more  on  sliore,  I  said  to  myself,  hero 
will  I  live  and  die,  and  never  go  on  that  river  again. 

Onr  brother.  Colonel  Tom,  met  us,  and  drove  us  to 
our  new  home.  In  the  dim  li<?ht  I  could  see  the  sreat 
post  of  Fort  Lincoln,  where  only  a  few  months  before 
we  had  left  a  barren  plain.  Our  quarters  were  light- 
ed, and  as  we  approached,  the  regimental  band  played 
"Home,  Sweet  Home,"  followed  by  the  generars  fa- 
vorite, "  Garryowen." 

The  general  had  completely  settled  the  house  before 
he  left  for  the  East,  but  he  had  kept  this  fact  secret,  as 
a  surprise.  Our  friends  had  lighted  it  all,  and  built 
fires  in  the  fireplaces.  Tlie  garrison  had  gathered  to 
welcome  us,  and  Mary  had  a  grand  supper  ready.  How 
we  chattered  and  gloried  over  the  regiment  having  a 
home  at  last.  It  seemed  too  good  to  believe  that  the 
Ttli  Cavalry  had  a  post  of  its  own,  with  room  for  the 

5 


9S  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

half  of  the  regiment  assigned  to  duty  there.  In  other 
garrisons,  when  we  had  come  in  late  in  the  fall  from 
campaigns,  the  officers,  in  order  to  get  places  for  them- 
selves, had  been  obliged  to  turn  some  one  else  out. 
There  is  a  disagreeable,  though  probably  necessary  law 
in  the  army  regulations,  which  dii-ects  officers  to  take 
their  quarters  according  to  rank. 

Fort  Lincoln  was  built  with  quarters  for  six  com- 
panies. The  barracks  for  the  soldiers  were  on  the  side 
of  the  parade-ground  nearest  the  river,  while  seven  de- 
tached houses  for  officers  faced  the  river  opposite.  On 
the  left  of  the  parade-ground  was  the  long  granary  and 
the  little  military  prison,  called  the  "  guard-house."  Op- 
posite, completing  the  square,  were  the  quartermaster 
and  commissary  storehouses  for  supplies  and  the  adju- 
tant's office.  Outside  the  garrison  proper,  near  the 
river,  were  the  stables  for  six  hundred  horses.  Still 
farther  beyond  were  tlie  quarters  for  the  laundresses, 
easily  traced  by  the  swinging  clothes-lines  in  front,  and 
dubbed  for  this  reason  "  Suds  Kow."  Some  distance  on 
from  there  were  the  log-huts  of  the  Indian  scouts  and 
their  families,  while  on  the  same  side  also  was  the  level 
plain  used  for  parades  and  drill.  On  the  left  of  the 
post  was  the  sutler's  store,  with  a  billiard-room  attached. 
Soon  after  the  general  arrived  he  permitted  a  citizen  to 
put  up  a  barber-shop,  and  afterwards  another  built  a 
little  cabin  of  cotton-wood,  with  canvas  roof  for  a  pho- 
tographer's establishment. 

The  post  was  located  in  a  valley,  while  just  back  of 
us  stretched  a  long  chain  of  bluffs.  On  the  summit  of 
a  hill,  nearly  a  ujile  to  the  left,  was  a  small  infantry 


OUR  NEW   HOME   AT   FORT   LLXCOLN.  99 

garrison,  which  had  been  established  some  time,  and  now 
belonged  to  our  post.  When  wo  went  to  return  the 
visits  of  the  infantiy  ladies,  the  mules  dragged  the  am- 
bulance up  the  steep  hill  with  difficulty.  AVe  found  liv- 
ing in  this  bleak  place — in  small,  shabbily  built  quarters, 
«ncli  as  a  daj-laborer  wonld  consider  hardly  good  enough 
for  his  family — delicate  women  and  children,  who,  as 
usual,  made  no  complaint  about  their  life.  Afterwards 
we  were  much  indebted  to  one  of  the  ladies,  v.'ho,  de- 
termined to  conquer  fate,  varied  our  lives  and  gave  us 
something  to  look  forward  to,  by  organizing  a  reading- 
club  that  met  every  week.  She  had  sent  to  the  East, 
before  the  trains  ceased  running,  for  the  new  books. 

This  little  post  had  been  built  before  the  railroad  was 
completed,  and  the  houses  were  put  together  with  as 
few  materials  as  possible.  There  was  no  plastering,  but 
the  ceilings  and  partitions  were  of  thick  paper  made  for 
the  purpose.  When  narrow  mouldings  of  wood  were 
tacked  over  the  joined  places,  and  all  of  it  painted,  the 
effect  was  very  pretty.  When  it  v.'as  torn  and  ragged 
it  looked  poverty-stricken  enougii.  In  one  set  of  quar- 
ters there  chanced  to  be  so  many  children  and  so  little 
room  that  tho  parents  had  invented  a  three-story  bed, 
where  the  little  ones  could  be  all  stowed  at  night.  While 
we  were  calling  there  one  day,  I  sat  talking  with  the 
cheerful  little  mother,  and  wondering  how  she  could  be 
so  bright.  Everything  in  garrison  life  was,  of  course, 
new  to  my  girl  friend,  and  I  discovered  she  was  trying 
to  smother  a  laugh.  She  commanded  a  view  of  the  in- 
ner door.  One  of  the  children,  who  had  been  beating 
the  wall  and  crying  to  enter,  had  finally  made  prelimi- 


100  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

nary  prejnirations.  She  had  thrust  through  a  hole  in 
the  paper  partition  each  article  of  her  little  wardrobe, 
even  to  her  slioes,  and  was  putting  the  first  rosy  foot 
tlirough  after  them,  Wiicn  the  mother  discovered  this 
slie  laughed  heartily,  and  gave  us  thus  an  opportunity 
to  join  her. 

Our  own  post  was  somewhat  sheltered  by  the  bluffs 
behind  ;  but  thougli  our  quarters  were  phistcred,  the  un- 
seasoned lumber  warped,  and  it  was  a  struggle  to  keep 
warm.  Tlie  wood  with  which  we  were  provided  was 
far  from  dry,  and  much  of  it  of  that  kind  that  burns 
quickly  but  sends  out  little  heat.  It  seemed  to  require 
the  entire  time  of  one  man  to  keep  up  the  fires.  It 
was  thus  a  blessed  tiling  for  the  poor  fellow  whose  duty 
it  was,  for  he  had  never  been  able  to  remain  long  with 
his  company  at  a  time.  lie  had  an  uncontrollable  habit 
of  drinking.  Most  of  the  time  he  belonged  to  the  band 
of  prisoners  who  are  taken  out  of  the  guard-house  every 
day,  under  a  sentinel,  to  police  the  garrison  and  cut  the 
wood.  Mary -gave  them  the  coffee  and  whatever  else  was 
left  from  the  table  every  dav.  This  seeming:! v  worth- 
less  fellow  told  Mary  that  he  believed  he  could  "  keep 
straight"  if  Mrs.  Custer  would  get  the  general  to  remit 
his  sentence  and  let  him  come  to  us  to  keep  the  fires. 
So  he  came,  and  was  occasionally  sober  for  some  time. 
lie  learned  to  go  through  the  house  with  his  arms  full 
of  wood  when  he  was  quite  drunk.  lie  really  had  too 
much  heart  to  cause  me  trouble,  and  used  to  say,  "  Mary, 
I  am  pretty  full,  but  don't  let  Mrs.  Custer  know  it,  for 
I  told  her  I  would  not  do  so  again,  and  I  don't  like  to 
make  her  feel  bad."    So  Mary  spied  out  the  land  before 


OUR   NEW   UOME   AT   FORT   LINCOLN.  101 

liiin  and  opened  liis  doors.  After  he  had  tried  her  pa- 
tience long,  she  finally  lost  her  temper  on  finding  that 
he  had  swallowed  all  the  Worcestershire  sauce  and  her 
bottle  of  pain-killer.  She  held  out  the  can  of  kerosene 
oil  to  him,  and  asked  if  he  would  not  add  that  to  his 
dram,  and  began  such  a  berating  that  he  hurried  off  to 
escape  from  the  violence  of  her  tongne. 

The  soldiers  asked  the  general's  permission  to  put  up 
a  place  in  which  they  could  have  entertainments,  and 
he  gave  them  every  assistance  he  could.  They  prepai-ed 
the  lumber  in  the  saw-mill  that  belonged  to  the  post. 
The  building  was  an  ungainly  looking  structure,  but 
larffe  enoufrh  to  hold  them  all.  The  unseasoned  cotton- 
wood  warped  even  while  the  house  was  being  built,  but 
by  patching  and  lining  with  old  torn  tents,  they  man- 
aged to  keep  out  the  storm.  The  scenery  was  painted 
on  condemned  canvas  stretched  on  a  frame-work,  and 
was  lifted  on  and  off  as  the  plays  required.  The  foot- 
lights in  front  of  the  rude  stage  were  tallow- candles 
that  smoked  and  sputtered  inside  the  clumsily  cobbled 
casing  of  tin.  The  seats  were  narrow  benches,  M'ithout 
backs.  The  officers  and  ladies  were  always  invited  to 
take  the  front  row  at  every  new  performance,  and  after 
they  entered,  the  house  filled  up  with  soldiers.  Some 
of  the  enlisted  men  played  very  well,  and  used  great  in- 
genuity in  getting  up  their  costumes.  The  general  ac- 
cepted every  invitation,  and  enjoyed  it  all  greatly.  The 
clog- dancing  and  negro  character  songs  between  the 
acts  were  excellent.  Indeed,  we  sometimes  had  profes- 
sionals, who,  having  been  stranded  in  the  States,  had 
enlisted. 


102  BOOTS   AXD   SADDLES. 

A  regiment  is  recruited  from  all  classes  and  condi- 
lions  of  men.  Occasionally  accident  revealed  the  secret 
that  there  were  fugitives  from  justice  in  the  ranks.  If 
they  changed  their  names,  they  found  no  place  where 
they  were  so  hidden  from  every  one  they  ever  knew  as 
in  a  regiment  that  is  ahva3-s  on  duty  in  the  territories. 
It  came  to  pass  sometimes  that  a  man  of  title,  who  liad 
"  left  his  country  for  his  comi try's  good,"  wore  the  gov- 
ernment blue  as  a  disguise,  and  served  as  a  trooper  for 
want  of  anything  better  to  do.  Among  the  men  who 
sent  word  they  would  be  glad  to  help  me  about  the 
liouse  when  we  were  settling — either  as  a  carpenter,  a 
saddler  to  sew  carpets,  or  a  blacksmith  to  put  up  stoves 
— there  were  several  with  histories.  Though  they  were 
strictly  military  with  the  general,  observing  the  rule  of 
never  speaking  unless  spoken  to,  they  sought  the  first 
opportunity  to  tell  me  their  troubles.  These  were  in- 
variably domestic  difficulties,  until  I  began  to  think 
our  regiment  was  "a  city  of  refuge"  for  outraged 
husbands.  It.  would  eventually  be  found  out  that 
these  men  liad  run  away  and  enlisted  under  assumed 
names,  when  driven  desperate  by  the  scoldings  of  a 
turbulent  wife.  Time,  and  the  loneliness  of  a  sol- 
dier's life,  would  soften  their  woes,  and  they  began  at 
last  to  sigh  even  for  the  high-pitched  voice  of  the  de- 
serted woman.  The  general  felt  as  badly  as  I  did  when 
I  carried  their  stories  to  him,  begging  him  to  get  them 
discharged.  He  had  a  little  fashion,  however,  of  asking 
me  to  remember  that  about  this,  as  about  every  other  sub- 
ject that  we  ever  discussed,  "there  were  always  two  sides 
to  a  question."     My  sympatliy  for  the  soldiers  in  trou- 


OUR  NEW   UOME   AT   FORT   LINCOLX.  103 

ble  was  of  little  avail,  for  the  law  compelling  them  to 
serve  the  five  years  out  was  irrevocable.  All  I  could  do 
was  to  write  letters  at  their  solicitation,  revealing  their 
identity  and  asking  for  a  reconciliation. 

My  husband's  duties  extended  over  a  wide  range.  If 
the  laundresses  had  a  serious  difficulty,  he  was  asked  to 
settle  it.  They  had  many  pugilists  among  them,  and 
the  least  infringement  of  their  rights  provoked  a  battle 
ill  which  wood  and  other  missiles  filled  the  air.  Band- 
aged and  braised,  they  brought  their  wrongs  to  our 
house,  where  both  sides  had  a  hearing.  Tiie  general 
had  occasionally  to  listen  and  arbitrate  between  husband 
and  wife,  when  the  laundress  and  her  soldier  husbaud 
could  not  agree.  I  was  banished  from  the  room,  while 
he  heard  their  story  and  gave  them  counsel.  In  the 
same  way  he  listened  to  whatever  complaints  the  sol- 
diers made.  Some  of  them  came  into  our  quarters  on 
one  occasion  with  a  tin  cup  of  coffee  for  the  general  to 
taste,  and  determine  whether  he  agreed  with  them  that 
it  was  too  poor  to  drink.  From  that  time  on,  after  ev- 
ery Sunday  morning  inspection,  the  general  went  with 
all  the  officers  to  visit  the  kitchens,  as  well  as  the  bar- 
racks of  each  company,  and  every  troop  commander  was 
called  upon  to  pass  criticisms  on  the  cleanliness  of  the 
fj^uarters  and  the  wholesomeness  of  the  food. 


104  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 


CHAPTER  X. 

rtfCIDENTS    OF    EVERY-DAY    LIFE. 

The  companies  each  i^ave  a  ball  in  tarn  during  the 
winter,  and  the  preparations  were  began  long  ii^i  ad- 
vance. There  was  no  place  to  bay  anything,  save  the 
sntler's  store  and  the  shops  in  the  little  town  of  Bis- 
marck, bat  they  were  well  ransacked  for  materials  for 
the  supper.  The  banks  where  the  soldiers  slept  were 
removed  from  the  barracks,  and  flags  festooned  aroand 
the  room.  Arms  were  stacked  and  gnidons  arranged 
in  groaps.  A  few  pictures  of  distinguished  men  were 
wreathed  in  imitation  laurel  leaves  cut  out  of  green 
paper.  Chandeliers  and  side  brackets  carved  out  of 
cracker- box  boards  into  fantastic  shapes  were  filled 
Avith  candles,  while  at  citlier  end  of  the  long  room  great 
logs  in  the  wide  flreplaces  threw  oat  a  cheerful  light. 

The  ball  opened,  headed  by  the  first-sergeant.  After 
this  the  oflBcei's  and  their  wives  were  invited  to  form  a 
set  at  one  end  of  the  room,  and  M-e  danced  several 
times.  One  of  the  men  whose  voice  was  clear  and  loud 
sang  the  calls.  He  was  a  comical  genius,  and  impro- 
vised new  w'ays  of  calling  off.  AVhen  the  place  came 
in  the  quadrille  to  "  Tarn  your  partners,"  his  voice  rose 
above  the  music,  in  the  notes  of  the  old  song,  "  Oh  swing 
those  girls,  those  pretty  little  girls,  those  girls  you  left 
behind  you  I''     Tliis  was  suc-h  an  inspirati(-tn  to  the  fun- 


INCIDENTS   OF   EVERYDAY   LIFE.  105 

lovers  that  tlio  swinging  nsnally  ended  in  our  being 
whirled  in  the  air  by  the  privileged  members  of  our 
family. 

The  soldiers  were  a  superb  lot  of  men  physically. 
The  ont-door  life  had  developed  them  into  perfect  spec- 
imens of  vigorous  manhood.  After  the  company  tailor 
had  cut  over  their  uniforms,  they  were  often  the  per- 
fection of  good  fitting.  The  older  soldiers  •wore,  on  the 
sleeves  of  their  coats,  the  rows  of  braid  that  designate 
the  number  of  years  in  the  service.  Some  had  the  army 
badges  of  the  corps  in  which  they  fought  during  the 
war,  while  an  occasional  foreign  decoration  showed  that 
they  had  been  brave  soldiers  in  the  fatherland.  "We 
were  escorted  out  to  the  supper-room  in  the  company- 
kitchen  in  advance  of  the  enlisted  men.  The  general 
delighted  the  hearts  of  the  sergeant  and  ball-managers 
by  sitting  down  to  a  great  dish  of  potato-salad.  It  was 
always  well-flavored  with  the  onion,  as  rare  out  there, 
and  more  appreciated  than  pomegi-anates  are  in  New 
York.  We  ladies  took  cake,  of  course,  but  Pi)aringly, 
for  it  was  also  a  great  luxury. 

When  we  returned  to  watch  the  dancing,  the  general 
was  on  nettles  for  fear  we  should  be  wanting  in  tact,  and 
show  our  amusement  by  laughing  at  the  costumes  of  the 
women.  There  was  but  a  sprinkling  of  them  :  several 
from  Bismarck  and  a  few  white  servants  of  the  officers. 
Each  company  was  allowed  but  three  or  four  laundress- 
es. The  soldier  was  obliged  to  ask  permission  to  mar- 
I'y,  and  his  engagement  was  a  weary  waiting  sometimes. 
In  order  to  get  a  vacancy  for  his  sweetheart,  he  had  to 
await  the  discharge  of  some  otlier  soldier  from  the  com- 

5* 


106  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

pany,  wliose  wife  held  the  appoiiitiiicjit  of  hiundress. 
These  women  M-ere  at  the  ball  in  fall  force,  and  each 
one  brought  her  babj.  AVlien  we  removed  our  wraps  in 
tlie  room  of  the  first -sergeant  we  usually  found  his  bed 
fpiite  fall  of  curly -headed  infants  sleeping,  while  the 
laundress  mothers  danced.  The  toilets  of  these  women 
were  something  marvellous' in  construction.  In  low 
neck  and  sliort  sleeves,  their  round,  red  arms  and  well- 
developed  figures  wheeled  around  the  barracks  all  night 
long.  Even  the  tall  Mexican  laundress,  hereafter  spe- 
cially mentioned,  would  deck  herself  in  pink  tarletan 
and  false  curls,  and  notwithstanding  her  heischt  and  co- 
lossal  anatomy,  she  had  constant  partners. 

The  little  Dutch  woman,  who  loved  Iier  husband 
more  devotedly  after  each  beating,  and  did  not  dance 
with  any  one  else,  was  never  absent  from  the  balls. 
Her  tiny  little  figure  was  suspended  between  heaven 
and  earth  while  her  tall  soldier  whirled  her  around  the 
long  hall  in  the  endless  German  waltz.  Some  officer 
would  whisper  slyly  in  my  ear,  as  she  bowed  and 
smiled  in  passing,  "Do  you  see  the  get-up  of  'Old 
Trooble  Agin?'"  She  had  long  before  earned  this 
sobriquet,  when  coming  to  me  for  help  out  of  her 
misfortunes,  beginning  each  story  of  woe  with  "Troo- 
ble agin."  Wherever  we  were,  when  the  orders  were 
issued  for  a  campaign,  she  soon  appeared  claiming  sym- 
])athy.  Xo  one  could  feel  at  such  a  time  more  than  I 
the  truth  of  her  preface,  for  if  we  w^ere  to  be  left  be- 
hind, it  was,  indeed,  "Trouble  again." 

The  pack  of  hounds  were  an  endless  source  of  delight 
to  the  general.     We  had  about  forty:  the  stag-hounds 


INCIDENTS   OF   EVERY-DAY   LIFE.  107 

that  rim  by  siglit,  and  are  on  the  wliole  the  fleetest  and 
most  enduring  dogs  in  tlie  world,  and  tlic  fox-hounds 
that  follow  the  trail  with  their  noses  close  to  the  ground. 
The  first  rarely  bark,  but  the  latter  are  very  noisy.  The 
general  and  I  used  to  listen  with  amusement  to  their 
attempts  to  strike  the  key-note  of  the  bugler  when  he 
sounded  the  calls  summoning  the  men  to  guard  mount, 
stables,  or  retreat.  It  rather  destroyed  the  military  ef- 
fect to  see,  beside  his  soldierly  figure,  a  hound  sitting 
down  absorbed  in  imitation.  With  lifted  head  and  roll- 
ing eyes  there  issued  from  the  broad  mouth  notes  so 
doleful  they  would  have  answered  for  a  miser icordia. 

The  fox-hounds  were  of  the  most  use  in  the  winter, 
for  the  hunting  was  generally  in  the  underbrush  and 
timber  along  the  river.  I  never  tired  of  watching  the 
start  for  the  hunt.  The  general  was*a  figure  that  would 
liave  fixed  attention  anywhere,  lie  had  marked  indi- 
viduality of  appearance,  and  a  certain  unstudied  care- 
lessness in  the  wearing  of  his  costume  that  gave  a  pict- 
uresque effect,  not  the  least  out  of  place  on  the  frontier. 
lie  wore  troop -boots  reaching  to  his  knees,  buckskin 
breeches  fringed  on  the  sides,  a  dark  navy  blue  shirt 
with  a  broad  collar,  a  red  necktie,  whose  ends  floated 
over  his  shoulder  exactly  as  they  did  when  he  and  his 
entire  division  of  cavalry  had  worn  them  during  the 
war.  On  the  broad  felt  hat,  that  was  almost  a  sombrero, 
was  fastened  a  slight  mark  of  his  rank. 

lie  was  at  this  time  thirty-five  years  of  age,  weighed 
one  hundred  and  seventy  puunds,  and  was  nearly  six 
feet  in  height.  His  eyes  were  clear  blue  and  deeply  set, 
liis  hair  short,  wavy,  and  golden  in  tint.     Ilis  mustache 


108  COOTS   AND   SADDLES. 

was  long  and  tawny  in  color ;  his  complexion  was  florid, 
except  where  his  forehead  was  shaded  hy  his  hat,  for 
the  sun  always  bnrned  his  skin  ruthlessly. 

He  was  the  most  agile,  active  man  I  ever  knew, 
and  so  very  strong  and  in  such  perfect  physical  con- 
dition that  he  rarely  knew^  even  an  hour's  indisposi- 
tion. 

Horse  and  man  seemed  one  when  the  general  vaulted 
into  the  saddle.  His  body  was  so  lightly  poised  and  so 
full  of  swinging,  nndulating  motion,  it  almost  seemed 
that  the  wind  moved  him  as  it  blew  over  the  plain.  Yet 
cvcij  nerve  was  alert  and  like  finely  tempered  steel,  for 
the  muscles  and  sinews  that  seemed  so  pliable  were 
equal  to  the  curbing  of  the  most  fiery  animal.  I  do  not 
think  that  he  sat  his  horse  with  more  grace  than  the 
other  officers,  fur  they  rode  superbly,  but  it  was  ac- 
counted by  others  almost' an  impossibility  to  dislodge 
the  general  from  the  saddle,  no  matter  how  vicious  the 
liorse  might  prove.  lie  threw  his  feet  out  of  the  stir- 
rups the  moment  the  animal  began  to  show  his  inclina- 
tion for  war,  and  with  his  knees  dug  into  the  sides  of 
the  plunging  bnite,  he  fought  and  always  conquered. 
With  his  own  horses  he  needed  neither  spur  nor  whip. 
They  were  such  friends  of  his,  and  his  voice  seemed  so 
attuned  to  their  natures,  they  knew  as  well  by  its  in- 
flections as  by  the  slight  pressure  of  the  bridle  on  their 
necks  what  he  wanted.  By  the  merest  inclination  on 
the  general's  part,  they  either  sped  on  the  Avings  of  the 
wind  or  adapted  their  spirited  steps  to  the  slow  move- 
ment of  the  march.  It  was  a  delight  to  see  them  to- 
gether, they  were  so  in  unison,  and  when  he  talked  to 


INCIDENTS   OF  EVERYDAY   LIFE.  109 

them,  as  thongli  they  had  been  human  beings,  their  in- 
telligent eyes  seemed  to  reply. 

As  an  example  of  his  horsemanship  he  had  a  way  of 
escaping  from  the  stagnation  of  the  dull  march,  when 
it  was  not  dangerous  to  do  so,  by  riding  a  short  distance 
in  advance  of  the  column  over  a  divide,  throwing  him- 
self on  one  side  of  his  horse  so  as  to  be  entirely  out  of 
sight  from  the  other  direction,  giving  a  signal  that  the 
animal  understood,  and  tearing  oft'  at  the  best  speed 
that  could  be  made.  The  horse  entered  into  the  frolic 
with  all  the  zest  of  his  master,  and  after  the  race  the 
animal's  beautiful,  distended  nostrils  glowed  blood-red 
as  he  tossed  his  head  and  danced  wnth  delight. 

In  hunting,  the  general  rode  either  Yic  or  Dandy. 
The  dogs  were  so  fond  of  the  latter,  they  seemed  to 
have  little  talks  with  him.  The  general's  favorite 
dog,  Bliicher,  would  leap  up  to  him  in  the  saddle,  and 
jump  fairly  over  the  horse  in  starting.  Tlie  si)irited 
liorses,  mounted  l)y  officers  who  sat  them  so  Avell,  the 
sound  of  the  horn  used  for  the  purpose  of  calling  the 
dogs,  their  answering  bay,  the  glad  voices,  and  "whoop- 
la"  to  the  hounds  as  the  party  galloped  down  the  valley, 
are  impressions  ineffaceable  from  my  memory.  They 
often  started  a  deer  within  sound  of  the  bugle  at  the 
post.  In  a  few  hours  their  shouts  outside  M-ould  call 
me  to  the  window,  and  there,  drooi)ing  across  the  bac-k 
of  one  of  the  orderlies'  horses,  would  be  a  magniHcent, 
black-tailed  deer.  AVe  had  a  saddle  of  venison  hanging 
on  the  wood-house  almost  constantly  during  the  winter. 
The  officers',  and  even  the  soldiers',  tables  had  this  rari- 
ty to  vary  the  monotony  of  the  inevitable  beef. 


110  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

After  these  hunts  the  dogs  had  often  to  be  cared  for. 
They  would  be  lame,  or  cut  in  the  cliase,  through  the 
tuJigle  of  vines  and  branches.  These  were  so  dense  it 
was  a  constant  wonder  to  the  general  how  the  deer 
could  press  through  with  its  spreading  antlers.  The 
English  liounds,  unacquainted  with  our  game,  used  to 
begin  with  a  porcupine  sometimes.  It  was  pitiful, 
though  for  a  moment  at  first  sight  amusing,  to  see  their 
noses  and  lips  looking  like  animated  pin -cushions. 
There  was  nothing  for  us  to  do  after  such  an  encounter 
but  to  begin  surgery  at  once.  Tiie  general  would  not 
take  time  to  get  off  his  hunting-clothes  nor  go  near  the 
lire  until  ho  had  called  the  dog  into  his  room  and  ex- 
tracted the  painful  quills  with  the  tweezers  from  his 
invaluable  knife.  I  sat  on  tlie  dog  and  held  his  paws, 
but  quivered  even  when  I  kept  my  head  averted.  The 
([uills  being  barbed  cannot  be  withdrawn,  but  must  be 
pulled  through  in  the  same  direction  in  which  they  en- 
tered. The  gums,  lips,  and  roof  of  the  mouth  were  full 
of  little  wounds,  but  the  dogs  were  extremely  sagacious 
and  held  very  still.  When  the  painful  operation  was 
over  they  were  very  grateful,  licking  the  general's  hand 
as  he  praised  them  for  their  pluck. 

Sometimes,  when  the  weather  was  moderate,  and  I 
rode  after  the  fox-hounds,  one  of  them  separated  him- 
self from  the  pack,  and  came  shaking  his  great,  velvet 
ears  and  wagging  his  cumbrous  tail  beside  my  horse. 
The  general  would  call  my  attention  to  him,  and  tell 
VDO  that  it  was  our  latest  surgical  patient,  paying  us  his 
bill  in  gratitude,  "which  is  the  exchequer  of  the  poor." 

Among  the  pack  was  an  old  hound  tliat  had  occa- 


INCIDENTS  OF   E VERY-DAY   LIFE.  Ill 

sional  fits.  When  lie  felt  the  symptoms  of  an  attack 
he  left  the  kennel  at  the  rear  of  the  house,  came  round 
to  the  front-door,  and  barked  or  scratched  to  get  in. 
My  husband  knew  at  once  that  the  dog  was  going  to 
suffer,  and  that  instinct  had  tanglit  him  to  come  to  us 
for  help.  Kover  would  lie  down  beside  the  general  un- 
til his  hour  of  distress,  and  then  solicit  the  ever-ready 
sympathy  with  his  mournful  eyes.  The  general  rubbed 
and  cared  for  him,  wliile  the  dog  writhed  and  foamed  at 
the  mouth.  He  was  always  greatly  touched  to  see  the 
old  hound,  when  he  began  to  revive,  try  to  lift  the  tip 
of  his  tail  in  gratitude. 

With  the  stag-liounds,  hunting  was  so  bred  in  the 
bone  that  they  sometimes  went  off  by  themselves,  and 
even  the  half-grown  puppies  followed.  I  have  seen 
them  returning  from  such  a  hunt,  the  one  who  led  the 
pcick  holding  proudly  in  his  mouth  a  jack-rabbit. 

The  wolves  in  their  desperate  hunger  used  to  come 
up  on  the  bluffs  almost  within  a  stone's-throw  of  our 
quarters.  It  was  far  from  pleasant  to  look  out  of  the 
window  and  see  them  prowling  about.  Once  when  the 
stag-liounds  were  let  out  of  the  kennel  for  exercise,  they 
flew  like  the  winds  over  the  hills  after  a  coyote.  The 
soldier  who  took  care  of  them  could  only  follow  on 
foot,  as  the  crust  on  the  snow  would  not  bear  the  weight 
of  a  horse.  After  a  long,  cold  walk  he  found  the  dogs 
standing  over  the  wolf  they  had  killed.  When  he  had 
dragged  it  back  to  our  wood-shed  he  sent  in  to  ask  if 
the  general  would  come  and  see  what  the  dogs  had  done 
unaided  and  alone,  for  he  was  very  proud  of  them. 

As  the  family  all  stood  talking  over  the  size  of  the 


113  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

coyote  and  its  fur,  I  said,  triumpliajith',  "Now,  I  shall 
have  a  robe !"  It  was  enongli  for  them,  and  they  made 
no  end  of  sport  about  nij  planning  a  robe  out  of  one 
small  skin.  After  we  had  all  gone  into  the  house,  the 
soldier,  who  was  not  accustomed  to  hear  such  badger- 
ing, went  in  to  Mary,  and  indignantly  exclaimed,  "Be 
jabers,  and  they'll  not  tease  her  about  that  long!"  Af- 
ter that,  during  the  winter,  he  walked  frequently  over 
the  plain  with  the  dogs,  and  when  they  had  started  a 
trail  and  run  almost  out  of  sight,  he  patiently  followed 
until  he  reached  the  spot  where  they  had  brought  down 
the  game.  Even  in  that  bitter  weather  he  brought  in 
enough  foxes,  swifts,  and  coyotes  to  make  me  a  large 
robe.  When  it  was  made  up,  I  triumphantly  placed 
myself  on  it,  and  reminded  my  family  of  their  teasing, 
and  the  time,  so  lately  past,  when  I  had  been  an  object 
of  jest  to  them. 

The  weather  seemed  to  grow  colder  and  colder  as  the 
winter  advanced  —  from  20°  to  30°  below  zero  was  or- 
dinary weather.  The  officers  were  energetic  enough  to 
get  up  sleighs,  even  with  all  the  difficulties  they  had  to 
encounter.  There  was  no  lumber  at  the  post  except 
unseasoned  cotton-wood.  The  man  who  could  get  a 
packing-box  for  the  body  of  his  sleigh  was  a  Croesus. 
The  carpenter  cut  and  sawed  the  edges  into  scallops 
and  curves;  the  rudest  bobs  were  ironed  by  the  com- 
pany blacksmith  ;  and  the  huge  tongue  of  an  army  M'ag- 
on  was  attached  to  the  frail  egg-shell.  The  wood-woi'k 
was  painted  black,  and  really  the  color  and  shape  re- 
minded one  of  a  little  baby  hearse.  Sister  Margaret 
and  I  disliked  sleiuhiii":  even  under  favorable  circum- 


INCIDENTS   OF   EVERY-DAY   LIFE.  113 

stances,  but  that  made  no  sort  of  difference ;  we  were  ex- 
pected to  go  twice  a  day,  and  try  in  turn  eacli  new  sleigh. 

My  husband  found  a  sketch  in  some  of  the  illustrated 
papers,  which  lie  thought  such  a  fitting  representation 
of  us, that  he  added  some  lines  and  drew  some  applica- 
ble features  to  the  picture,  and  wrote  underneath,  "  Mar- 
garet and  Libbie  enjoying  a  sleigh-ride  !"'  (two  wretched, 
shivering  beings,  wrapped  in  furs,  sit  with  their  feet  in 
a  tub  of  ice-water,  while  a  servant  rings  a  dinner-bell 
over  their  heads).  AYhen  we  were  thus  taken  out,  as  a 
sacrifice  we  were  enveloped  in  so  many  wraps  we  had 
literally  to  be  carried  and  dropped  into  the  sleigh,  and 
after  hot  bricks  were  adjusted  to  our  feet,  we  assumed 
the  martyr  look  that  women  understand  how  to  talce  on 
when  persuaded  against  their  will,  and  off  we  flew.  It 
made  no  impression  if  we  were  speechless  —  the  dearth 
of  women  made  the  men  far  from  critical.  Sometimes 
we  went  to  the  Ilart  River,  which  empties  into  the  Mis- 
souri, and  which  we  were  not  afraid  to  drive  over,  as  it 
was  frozen  solid.  And  yet  it  should  be  understood  that 
we  preferred  to  go  and  be  frozen  rather  than  stay  at 
liome  and  be  comfortable,  for  we  were  a  band  of  friends 
sharing  the  sanie  isolation,  and  each  took  comfort  in 
contributing  to  the  enjoyn^ent  of  the  I'cst. 

One  sort  of  sleighing  we  really  did  enjoy.  One  of  the 
officers  got  up  a  long  sleigh,  using  the  bed  of  an  army 
wagon  for  the  box.  He  was  his  own  coachman,  and 
stood  in  front  driving  an  excellent  four-in-hand.  We  all 
placed  ourselves  in  the  straw  and  robes,  and  nothing  of 
the  whole  party  was  visible  except  two  rows  of  "  tip  tilt- 
ed,'' rosy-tinted  noses  peeping  out  from  under  fur  caps 


114  BOOTS   AXD   SADDLES. 

and  gay  mufflers.  If  any  one  rashly  left  a  seat  to  play 
some  prank  it  was  never  regained.  The  space  closed  np 
instantly,  and  it  was  a  choice  of  standing  for  the  rest  of 
the  distance,  or  uncomfortably  sitting  on  the  spnrs,  arc- 
tics, or  buffalo  over-shoes  of  the  others.  Another  of 
our  number  tried  driving  tandem  ;  and  as  his  horses 
were  very  fleet  and  his  sleigh  very  frail,  it  was  a  study 
from  first  to  last  how  soon  we  should  gather  up  the 
fragments  of  our  scattered  selves  from  the  white  plain 
over  which  we  flew  at  eagle  speed. 

When  the  thermometer  went  down  to  45°  below 
zero,  the  utmost  vigilance  was  exercised  to  prevent 
the  men  from  being  frozen.  The  general  took  off 
all  the  sentinels  but  two,  and  those  were  encased 
in  buffalo  overcoats  and  shoes,  and  required  to  walk 
their  beat  but  fifteen  minutes  at  a  time.  There  were 
fio  wells  or  cisterns,  and  the  quartermaster  had  no 
means  of  supplying  the  post  with  water,  except  with  a 
water-wagon  that  required  six  mules  to  haul  it  around 
the  garrison.  The  hole  in  the  river  through  which  the 
water  was  drawn  was  cut  through  five  feet  of  ice.  It 
was  6imj)ly  dreadful  on  those  bitter  days  to  see  the 
poor  men  whose  duty  it  was  to  distribute  the  supply. 
My  husl)and  used  to  turn  away  with  a  shudder  from 
the  window  when  they  came  in  sight,  and  beg  me  not 
to  talk  of  a  matter  that  he  was  powerless  to  remed}^ 
The  two  barrels  at  the  kitchen -door  were  all  that  we 
could  have,  and  on  some  days  the  men  and  wagon  could 
not  go  around  at  all.  We  husbanded  every  drop,  and 
borrowed  from  a  neighbor,  if  any  neighbor  was  fortu- 
nate enough  not  to  have  used  all  his  supply. 


THE   BURNING   OF   OUR   QUARTERS.  115 


CHAPTER   XI. 

THE   BtJENING    OF    OUR    QUARTEKS. — CARRYING   THE   MAIL. 

We  had  hardly  finished  arranging  our  quarters  when, 
one  freezing  night,  I  was  awakened  by  a  roaring  sound 
in  a  chimney  that  liad  been  defective  from  the  first. 
Women  have  such  a  rooted  habit  of  smelling  smohe  and 
sending  men  on  needless  investigating  trips  in  the  dead 
of  night,  that  I  tried  to  keep  still  for  a  few  moments. 
The  sound  grew  too  loud  to  be  mistaken,  and  I  awakened 
my  husband.  He  ran  up -stairs  and  found  the  room 
above  us  on  fire.  He  called  to  me  to  bring  him  some 
water,  believing  he  could  extinguish  it  himself.  While 
I  hurried  after  the  water,  there  came  such  a  crash  and 
explosion  that  my  brain  seemed  to  reel  from  fright.  I 
Yiad  no  thought  but  that  my  husband  was  killed.  Noth- 
ing can  describe  the  relief  with  which  I  heard  his  voice 
calling  back  to  my  agonized  question  as  to  his  safety. 
His  escape  was  very  narrow;  the  chimney  had  burst, 
the  whole  side  of  the  room  was  blown  out,  and  he  was 
covered  with  plaster  and  surrounded  with  fallen  bricks. 
The  gas  from  the  petroleum  paper  put  on  between  the 
plastering  and  the  outer  walls  to  keep  out  the  cold  had 
exploded.  The  roof  had  ignited  at  once,  and  was  blown 
off  wilh  a  noise  like  the  report  of  artillery.  The  sen- 
tinel at  the  guard-house  fired  his  carbine  as  an  alarm. 
The  general  ran  to  one  of  the  lower  windows,  and  with 


lie  LOOTS   AND   SADDLES. 

Ill's  powerful  voice  tliat  he  could  throw  so  far  called  for 
tlie  guard.  Tlien  we  hurried  to  the  room  occupied  bj 
our  girl-friend.  The  plastering  falling  on  licr  bed  from 
the  burnhig  roof  was  the  first  hint  she  had  of  tlie  dan- 
ger. It  was  unsafe  for  her  to  stop  to  gatlier  lier  clothes, 
and  wrapping  a  blanket  about  her  we  sent  hor  to  our 
sister  next  door. 

In  an  incredibly  short  time  the  men  were  swarming 
about  the  liouse.  The  general  had  buttoned  his  vest, 
containing  his  watch  and  purse,  over  his  long  night- 
dress, and  unconscious  of  his  appearance,  gave  just  as 
cool  orders  to  the  soldiers  as  if  it  were  at  drill.  They, 
also,  were  perfectly  cool,  and  worked  like  beavers  to 
remove  our  things;  for  with  no  engine  and  without 
water  it  was  useless  to  try  to  save  the  house.  The  gen- 
eral stood  upon  the  u])per  landing  and  forbade  them  to 
join  him,  as  it  w\as  perilous,  the  floors  being  then  on 
Arc.  lie  had  insisted  upon  my  going  out  of  the  house, 
but  I  was  determined  not  to  do  so  until  he  w^as  safe. 
When  I  did  leave  I  ran  in  my  night-dress  over  the  snow 
to  our  sister's.  The  house  burned  very  quickly.  Fortu- 
nately it  was  a  still,  cold  night,  and  there  was  no  wind 
to  spread  the  flames.  Except  for  this  the  whole  garri- 
son must  have  been  burned. 

When  the  morning  came  we  went  to  inspect  the  heap 
of  household  belongings  that  had  been  carried  out  on 
the  parade-ground.  It  was  a  sorry  collection  of  toi'u, 
broken,  and  marred  effects !  Most  of  my  clothes  were 
gone.  Our  poor  girl-friend  looked  down  into  her  trunk, 
empty  except  for  one  tarlatan  party  gown.  I  liad  lost 
silver  and  linen,  and  what  laces  and  flnery  I  had.     The 


THE   BURNING   OF  OUR   QUARTERS.  117 

only  loss  I  mourned,  as  it  was  really  irreparable,  was 
a  collection  of  newspaper  clippings  regarding  my  hus- 
band that  I  had  saved  during  and  since  the  war.  Be- 
sides these  I  lost  a  little  wig  that  I  had  worn  at  a  fancy- 
dress  ball,  made  from  the  golden  rings  of  curly  hair  cut 
from  my  husband's  head  after  the  war,  when  he  had 
given  up  wearing  long  locks. 

The  fire  served  one  purpose  after  all.  Before  it  oc- 
curred I  had  alwa^'s  been  a  trial  to  Mary  because  I  cared 
60  little  for  dress  and  really  owned  so  few  ornaments. 
When  the  servants  gathered  together  after  that  to  boast 
of  the  possessions  of  their  several  mistresses,  as  is  custom- 
ary with  the  colored  people,  who  so  love  display,  Mary 
was  armed  with  an  excuse  for  me.  I  used  to  hear  of  her 
Baying,  "You  jist  orter  seed  what  Miss  Libbie  had  afo' 
the  fire ;"  and  then  she  w^ould  describe  in  detail  elegant 
apparel  that  I  had  never  even  thought  of  having.  Long 
afterwards  I  heard  of  the  comments  of  one  of  our  num- 
ber, who  loved  the  loaves  and  fishes  of  this  life  beyond 
everj'thing.  In  vain  she  accumulated  and  had  the  proud 
satisfaction  of  out-doing  every  one  in  the  number  of  her 
dresses.  Mary  managed  to  slip  into  her  kitchen  on  some 
feigned  errand,  and  drawing  upon  her  imagination  re- 
lated how  much  richer  Miss  Libbie's  possessions  were 
before  the  lire.  I  had  a  hearty  laugh  by  niyself  when  I 
heard  that  the  Miss  Flora  McFlimsey  of  our  circle,  worn 
out  with  the  boasting  of  the  cook,  was  heard  to  exclaim, 
"I  wish  I  might  have  seen  for  myself  all  the  gorgeous- 
ness  described.  I  am  tired  to  death  of  Iiearing  about 
'befo' the  fire.'" 

The  general  selected  another  set  of  quarters  next  to 


118  BOOTS  AXD   SADDLES. 

his  brother''s,  and  tliither  removed,  the  remnants  of  oui" 
Jiouseliold  goods.  He  begged  me  not  to  go  near  the 
house,  or  attempt  to  settle,  until  I  had  recovered  from 
the  fright  of  the  lire  and  of  liis  imperilled  life  the  night 
before.  AVe  were  all  busy  enough  trying  to  iit  our 
things  upon  our  little  friend.  Her  purse,  M-ith  abun- 
dance to  buy  a  new  outfit,  was  burned,  and  it  would  bo 
weeks  before  she  could  receive  a  remittance  from  home 
by  our  slow  mails.  JS^ext  day,  as  she  sat  among  us  in 
borrowed  apparel,  several  sizes  too  large,  she  had  a  sur- 
prise. A  huge  clothes-basket  was  handed  in  at  the 
door,  witli  a  note  addressed  to  hci",  begging  her  to  con- 
sider herself,  what  the  garrison  had  long  felt  that  slie 
was,  "  the  daughter  of  the  regiment."  The  basket  con- 
tained everything  that  the  generous  hearts  of  friends 
could  suggest.  Not  content  with  this,  another  was  sent 
on  the  next  day,  with  a  further  supply  of  things  bought 
in  the  store  at  Bismarck.  She  objected  to  the  accept- 
ance, and  tears  rose  in  her  eyes  at  the  thoughtf ulness ; 
but  there  were  no  names  signed  to  the  note,  so  we  would 
not  heed  remonstrances.  Evei-y  one  came  with  needles 
and  thimbles,  and  the  scissors  flew. 

I  was  too  much  absorbed  in  this  scheme  to  ask  many 
questions  about  the  new  quarters.  When  I  did  inquire, 
the  general  put  me  off  by  saying  that  in  a  few  days  I 
should  begin  to  settle.  The  second  evening  after  the 
fire  he  sent  for  me,  and  asked  if  I  would  come  and  con- 
sult with  him  about  some  arrangement  of  the  furniture, 
as  he  was  too  busy  to  come  after  me.  I  started  at  once, 
but  Mary,  ever  thoughtful  of  my  appearance,  and  deep 
in  the  mystery  that  followed,  urged  me  to  put  on  my 


THE   BURNING   OF  OUR   QUARTERS.  113 

other  gown.  I  was  unwillinglj  put  into  it,  and  went 
to  the  new  house  to  find  both  sets  of  quarters  lighted 
tliroughout,and  the  band  plaj'ing  "Home,  Sweet  Home." 
My  liusband,  meeting  nie,  led  me  in,  and  to  my  ntter 
surprise  I  found  the  whole  place  completely  settled,  a 
door  cut  through  into  Colonel  Tom's  quarters,  and  the 
garrison  assembled  at  the  general's  invitation  for  the 
house-warming.  The  pantry  was  full  of  good  things  to 
eat  that  Mary  had  prepared  for  the  supper.  Every  one 
tried,  by  merry  frolic  and  dancing,  to  make  n}c  forget 
the  catastrophe,  and  the  general,  bubbling  over  with  fun, 
inspired  me  to  join.  Then  lie  told  me  to  what  subter- 
fuges he  had  resorted  to  get  the  house  ready,  and  re- 
peated to  me  again  that  it  was  never  worth  while  to 
''cry  over  spilled  milk." 

The  life  of  the  enlisted  men  was  very  dull  during  the 
cold  weather.  In  the  summer  they  had  mounted  drill 
and  parades,  and  an  occasional  scout,  to  vary  the  life. 
They  got  very  little  good  out  of  their  horses  in  the  win- 
ter. An  hour  in  the  morning  and  another  in  the  after- 
noon were  spent  every  day  in  grooming  them.  The 
general  took  me  down  to  the  stables  sometimes  to  watch 
the  work.  Each  horse  had  the  name  given  to  him  by 
his  rider  printed  in  home-made  letters  over  his  stall. 
Some  of  the  men  were  so  careful  of  their  horses  that 
they  were  able  to  keep  them  for  service  during  the  five 
years  of  their  enlistment.  The  daily  intercourse  of 
horse  and  rider  quickened  the  instinct  of  the  brute,  so 
that  he  seemed  half  human.  Indeed,  I  have  seen  an  old 
troop-horse,  from  whose  back  a  raw  recruit  had  tumbled, 
go  through  the  rest  of  the  drill  as  correctly  as  if  inouiit- 


120  BOOTS  AXD   SADDLES. 

ed  by  a  well-trained  soldier.  Many  of  the  soldiers  love 
and  pet  their  dumb  beasts,  and  if  the  supply  of  grain 
gives  out  on  a  campaign  they  unhesitatingly  steal  fur 
them,  as  a  mother  would  for  a  starving  child. 

Beside  cverj^  stall  hung  the  saddle  and  equipments 
of  the  troo^Der,  and  the  companies  vied  with  one  anoth- 
er in  keeping  them  in  perfect  condition.  Some  of  the 
horses'  coats  shone  like  satin  under  the  busy  currycomb 
of  an  attached  master.  The  captain  of  a  company  and 
his  first-sergeant  soon  discovered  the  faults  of  a  horse. 
When  the  preparations  for  a  campaign  began,  it  M'as 
really  laughable  to  hear  the  ingenions  excnses  why  an 
apparently  sound  horse  should  be  exchanged  for  an- 
other from  the  fresh  supply. 

In  the  same  way  a  soldier  who  was  hopelessly  worth- 
less was  often  transferred  to  another  company.  The 
officers  who  had  been  the  recipient  of  the  undesirable 
soldier  would  come  to  the  general  to  complain.  I  could 
not  alwaj'S  keep  a  straight  countenance  when  the  in- 
jured, captain  narrated  his  wrongs.  One  told  of  what 
desperate  need  he  had  been  in  for  a  tailor,  lie  had 
been  proffered  this  man  with  many  eulogies  by  a  broth- 
er officer,  and  the  final  recommendation  given  which 
insured  the  acceptance  of  this  seemingly  generous  offer 
was,  "He  has  made  clothes  for  ine^  Not  until  the 
transfer  was  effected,  and  a  suit  of  clothes  ruined  for 
the  captain,  was  he  told  by  his  would-be  liberal  friend 
the  whole  story,  which  was,  "  Oh  yes !  he  made  clothes 
for  me,  but,  I  forgot  to  add,  I  couldn't  wear  them." 

The  general  sympathized  with  the  impatience  of  the 
3n listed  men  in  their  dull  life,  which  drove  the  ser- 


CARRYING   THE   MAIL.  l^^i 

geants  to  solicit  as  a  privilege  the  transportation  of  the 
mail.  For  a  man  of  mj  husband's  temperament  it  was 
easy  to  understand  that  danger  was  more  endurable 
than  the  dead  calm  of  barrack  life.  The  telegraph  lines 
were  freqnentl}'  down,  and  except  for  the  courage  of 
the  sergeants  we  should  have  been  completely  isolated 
from  the  outside  world.  With  four  mules  and  the  cov- 
ered body  of  a  government  wagon  on  bobs,  they  went 
over  a  trackless  waste  of  snow  for  two  hundred  and  fifty 
miles.  Occasionally  there  were  huts  that  had  once  been 
stage  stations,  where  they  could  stop,  but  it  was  deadly 
perilous  for  them  to  leave  the  telegrapli  line,  no  matter 
through  what  drifts  they  were  compelled  to  plunge. 

The  bewilderment  of  a  snow-storm  comes  very  soon. 
An  officer  lying  in  the  hospital,  quite  crazed  from  hav- 
ing been  lost  in  attempting  to  cross  a  parade-ground 
onl}'-  large  enough  for  the  regiment  in  line,  was  a  fear- 
ful warning  to  these  venturesome  men.  If  the  mail  ser- 
geant did  not  appear  when  he  was  due — at  the  end  of 
two  weeks — the  general  could  scarcely  restrain  his  anx- 
iety, lie  was  so  concerned  for  the  man's  safety  that 
lie  kept  going  to  the  window  and  door  incessantly.  He 
spoke  to  me  so  often  of  his  fears  for  him  that  I  used 
to  imagine  he  would,  for  once,  express  some  of  his  anx- 
iety when  the  sergeant  finally  appeared  to  report ;  but 
military  usage  was  too  deeply  bred  in  the  bone  of  both, 
and  the  report  was  made  and  received  witii  the  custom- 
liry  repressed  dignity  of  manner.  However,  I  have  seen 
my  husband  follow  the  man  to  the  door,  and  tell  him 
that  he  had  felt  great  concern  about  him,  and  renew  his 
directions  to  take  every  precaution  for  his  safety.    IIow 

G 


122  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

tliankful  I  used  to  be  that  I  was  not  hedged  in  with  a 
soldier's  discipline,  but  that  I  could  follow  the  faithful 
old  trooper  and  tell  him  how  the  general  had  worried 
about  him,  and  how  thankful  we  all  M'ere  for  his  safe 
return. 

It  did  not  take  long  for  the  garrison  to  discover  the 
poor  mules,  with  their  tired,  drooping  heads  and  wilted 
ears,  dragging  the  mail-sleigh  into  the  post.  Every  offi- 
cer rushed  to  the  adjutant's  office  for  his  mail.  It  was 
a  great  event  and  the  letters  were  hailed  with  joy.  An 
orphan,  and  having  no  brothers  and  sisters,  I  must  have 
been  the  only  one  who  was  contented  not  to  get  any. 
For  my  world  was  there.  An  officer's  wife  who  could 
hardly  wait  for  news  from  her  lonely,  delicate  mother 
in  the  East  used  to  say  pathetically,  realizing  the  dis- 
tance that  intervened,  that  no  one  knew  what  it  was 
to  be  married  to  a  husband  and  a  mother  at  the  same 
time. 

As  soon  as  the  mail  was  distributed,  the  general  bur- 
ied himself  with  the  newspapers.  For  several  days  af- 
ter he  agreed  with  me  that  an  old  engraving,  called 
"My  Husband,"  was  a  faithful  likeness  of  him  at  such 
a  time  (the  pictni'e  represented  a  man  sitting  in  a 
chair,  completely  hidden,  except  his  crossed  legs  and 
his  hands,  and  clasping  an  outspread  paper).  As  soon 
as  the  contents  were  devoured,  he  cut  from  the  illus- 
trated papers  comic  pictures,  and  adding  to  them  some 
doggerel,  sent  them  in  to  our  witty  neighbor  as  illus- 
trating some  joke  that  had  transpired  against  her. 
With  other  papers,  by  a  little  drawing  he  transposed 
the  fifTures  and  likenesses  of  some  of  the  officers  who 


CARRYING   THE   MAIL.  133 

liad  been  placed  previously  in  some  ludicrous  position. 
Adding  marginal  comments,  lie  left  the  pictures  upper- 
most where  they  were  sure  to  be  seen  by  the  persons  for 
whom  they  were  intended,  when  they  came  in  as  usual 
to  look  over  the  papers  and  magazines  in  his  room.  A 
clever  lady  in  a  neighboring  garrison,  speaking  of  the 
arrival  of  the  mail,  described  how  voraciously  she  seized 
the  new  reading  matter  and  closeted  herself  for  hours 
to  read  up  in  advance  of  the  others.  She  felt  that  "  hav- 
ing exhausted  every  other  topic  she  must  coach  up  on 
something  new." 

In  spite  of  the  great  risks  and  dangers  of  the  mail- 
carriers,  their  journeys  were  accomplished  without  seri- 
ous accident.  I  used  to  hear  occasionally  that  the  ser- 
geant had  levied  such  a  heavy  tax  upon  the  citizens  of 
Bismarck,  when  he  brought  small  parcels  through  for 
them,  that  he  had  quite  a  little  sum  of  money  for  hin> 
self  by  spring. 


134  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

PERPLEXITIES    AND   PLEASURES    OF   DOMESTIC    LIFE. 

The  climate  of  Dakota  was  so  fine  that  those  who 
liad  been  poisoned  bj  malaria  in  the  South  became  per- 
fectly well  after  a  short  residence  there.  Sickness  was 
of  rare  occurrence,  and  because  of  its  infrequency  it 
drew  forth  lavish  sympathy.  In  the  autumn  a  "beauti- 
ful little  girl,  the  daughter  of  the  sutler,  was  brought 
into  the  garrison  dying  with  diphtheria.  There  was 
no  law,  like  the  city  ordinance,  compelling  a  warning 
placard  to  be  placed  on  the  door,  and  it  would  have 
been  of  no  avail  in  keeping  her  friends  away.  When 
I  begged  the  heart-broken  mother  to  turn  from  the 
last  breath  of  her  idol,  it  seemed  to  me  her  lot  was 
too  hard  for  human  endui'anee.  Every  sorrow  seemed 
much  worse  out  there,  where  we  were  so  unaccustomed 
to  suffering. 

As  I  looked  at  the  little  waxen  body  prepared  for 
burial,  lying  so  like  a  pretty  flower,  I  did  not  wonder 
at  the  mother's  grief  and  despair.  She  was  a  thousand 
miles  from  Eastern  friends;  her  husband  was  absent  on 
business,  and  she  among  strangers.  At  another  time, 
when  a  young  mother  was  caring  for  her  newly-born 
babe,  the  little  toddling  brother  w^as  unfortunately  ex- 
posed to  the  cold,  and  fell  violently  ill  with  pneumonia. 


TERPLEXITIES  AXD  PLEASURES  OF  DOMESTIC  LIFE.     125 

Every  lady  came  daily  to  lielp  care  for  him,  and  at  last 
the  officers'  repeatedly  proffered  services  were  accepted 
for  night  nursing.  I  remember  watching  and  admir- 
ing the  tenderness  of  a  handsome,  dashing  young  fel- 
low as  he  walked,  the  floor  with  the  feverish  little  suf- 
ferer, or  rocked  him  patiently  until  dawn.  And  when  I 
saw  him  often  afterwards  gliding  about  in  the  dance, 
or  riding  beside  some  pretty  girl,  I  used  to  think  to 
myself  that  I  could  tell  his  sweetheart  something  good 
about  him.  We  were  all  like  one  family — every  one 
was  so  quick  to  sympathize,  so  ready  to  act  if  trouble 
came. 

After  the  trains  had  been  taken  off,  and  winter  had 
fairly  set  in,  the  young  mother,  whom  we  all  loved,  was 
in  despair  about  clothing  for  her  little  ones.  We  had 
reached  a  land  where  there  were  no  seamstresses,  no 
ready-made  clothing,  and  nothing  suitable  for  children. 
Money  did  no  good,  though  our  friend  had  abundance 
of  that,  but  busy  fingers  were  needed.  The  ladies 
quietly  arranged,  as  a  surprise,  a  sewing-bee.  We  im- 
pressed our  brother  Tom  into  our  service,  and  taught 
him  to  use  the  sewing-machine.  A  laughing  crowd 
dropped  scissors  and  thimbles  at  parade-time  and  fol- 
lowed to  the  door  to  watch  him  hurry  on  his  belt  and 
sabre  and  take  his  place — the  quintessence  then  of  every- 
thing military  and  manly.  A  roomful  of  busy  women, 
cutting,  basting,  making  button -holes,  and  joining  to- 
gether little  garments,  soon  had  a  passable  outOt  for  the 
brave  mother's  little  ones,  and  even  a  gown  for  her  own 
sweet  self.  I  do  not  remember  ever  seeing  anything 
quite  so  Dntchy  and  cumbersome,  however,  as  thoso 


126  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 

little  children  dressed  in  the  cobbled-ont  woollen  clothes 
our  ignorant  fingers  had  fashioned. 

A  woman  on  the  frontier  is  so  cherished  and  appre- 
ciated, because  she  has  the  courage  to  Jive  out  there, 
that  there  is  nothing  that  is  not  done  for  her  if  she  be 
gracious  and  courteous.  In  twenty  little  ways  the 
officers  spoiled  us:  they  never  allowed  us  to  wait  on 
ourselves,  to  open  or  shut  a  door,  draw  up  our  own 
chair,  or  to  do  any  little  service  that  they  could  perform 
for  us.  If  we  ran  to  the  next  house  for  a  chat,  with  a 
shawl  thrown  over  our  heads,  we  rarely  got  a  chance  to 
return  alone,  but  with  this  undignified  head -covering 
were  formally  brought  back  to  our  door  !  I  wonder  if 
it  will  seem  that  we  were  foolishly  petted  if  I  reveal 
that  our  husbands  buttoned  our  shoes,  wrapped  us  up 
if  we  went  out,  warmed  our  clothes  before  the  fire, 
poured  the  water  for  our  bath  out  of  the  heavy  pitcher, 
and  studied  to  do  innumerable  little  services  that  a  maid 
would  have  done  for  us  in  the  States. 

I  don't  think  it  made  us  helpless,  however.  In  our 
turn  we  watched  every  chance  we  could  to  anticipate 
their  wants.  We  did  a  hundred  things  we  would  not 
have  remembered  to  do  had  not  the  quickly  passing  time 
brought  nearer  each  day  those  hours  of  separation  when 
we  would  have  no  one  to  do  for.  I  am  sure  I  never 
saw  more  tender  men  than  the  officers.  One  learned  to 
conceal  the  fact  that  one  was  ailing  or  fatigued,  for  it 
made  them  so  anxious.  The  eyes  of  sister  Margaret's 
husband  come  to  me  now,  full  of  intense  suffering  for 
his  wife,  as  she  silently  read  her  home  letters  telling  of 
our  mother  Custer's  failing  strength.     She  suppressed 


PERPLEXITIES  AND  PLEASURES  OF  DOMESTIC  LIFE.     1^7 

her  weeping  until  they  had  retired  and  she  believed 
him  asleep.  She  found  her  mistake  M'hen  his  gentle 
hands  stole  softly  to  her  cheeks  to  feel  if  they  were 
moistened  with  tears. 

So  seldom  did  wo  hear  of  an  officer's  unkindness  to 
his  wife,  that  a  very  old  legend  used  to  be  revived  if  a 
reference  to  anything  of  the  kind  was  needed.  Before 
the  war  some  officer  wished  to  measure  the  distance  of 
a  day's  march,  and  having  no  odometer  elected  his  wife 
to  that  office.  The  length  of  the  revolution  of  a  wheel 
was  taken,  a  white  handkerchief  tied  to  a  spoke,  and 
the  madam  was  made  to  count  the  rotations  all  day 
long.  The  story  seldom  failed  to  fire  the  blood  of  the 
officers  when  it  was  told.  They  agreed  that  nothing 
but  a  long  life  among  Indians,  and  having  the  treat- 
ment of  the  squaw  before  him,  would  cause  a  man  to 
act  with  such  brutality. 

Domestic  care  sat  very  lightly  on  me.  ISTothing 
seemed  to  annoy  my  husband  more  than  to  find  me  in 
the  kitchen,  lie  determinedly  opposed  it  for  years, 
and  begged  me  to  make  a  promise  that  I  would  never 
go  there  for  more  than  a  moment.  We  had  such  ex- 
cellent servants  that  my  presence  was  unnecessary  most 
of  the  time,  but  even  in  the  intervals  when  our  fare  was 
wretched  he  submitted  uncomplainingly  rather  than  that 
I  should  be  wearied.  A  great  portion  of  the  time  my 
life  was  so  rough  that  he  knew  it  taxed  me  to  the  ut- 
most, and  I  never  forgot  to  be  grateful  that  I  was  spared 
domestic  care  in  garrison.  We  had  so  much  company 
that,  though  I  enjoyed  it,  I  sometimes  grew  weary. 
When    the  winter   came   and   there   was   little   to   do 


128  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

officially,  mj  husband  made  every  preparation  for  our 
receptions :  ordered  the  supplies,  planned  the  refresh- 
ment, and  directed  the  servants.  The  consequence  was 
that  I  sometimes  had  as  enjoj'able  a  time  as  if  I  had 
been  entertained  at  son)e  one  else's  house.  To  prove 
how  much  pleasure  I  had,  I  recall  a  speech  that  the 
family  kept  among  a  collection  of  vaj  faux  jpas.  They 
overboard  me  saying  to  some  of  our  guests,  "Don't  go 
liome,  we  are  having  such  a  good  time."  Afterwards 
the  tormenting  home  circle  asked  me  if  it  would  not 
have  been  in  a  little  better  taste  to  let  the  guests  say 
that ! 

We  bad  such  a  number  of  my  husband's  family  in 
garrison  that  it  required  an  effort  occasionally  to  pre- 
vent our  being  absorbed  in  one  another.  A  younger 
brother  came  on  from  Michigan  to  visit  us,  and  our 
sister  Margaret's  husband  liad  a  sister  and  brother  at 
the  post.  Sometimes  we  found  that  nine  of  us  were 
on  one  side  of  the  room  deeply  interested  in  conver- 
sation. Something  would  rouse  us  to  a  sense  of  our 
selfishness,  and  I  was  the  one  sent  off  to  look  out  the 
quiet  ones  at  the  hop  who  needed  entertaining.  If  I 
chanced  to  be  struggling  to  teach  new  steps  in  dancing 
to  feet  unaccustomed  to  anything  but  march  or  drill, 
or  strove  to  animate  the  one  whom  all  pronounced  a 
bore,  the  family  never  failed  to  note  it.  They  played 
every  sly  trick  they  could  to  disconcert  and  tease  me. 
I  did  not  submit  tameiy.  As  soon  as  I  could,  I  made 
my  way  to  them,  and  by  threats  and  intimidations  scat- 
tered them  to  their  duty  ! 

At  the  hops  the  officers  waited  long  and  patiently  for 


TERPLEXITIES  AND   TLEASURES  OF  DOMESTIC  LIFE.     lx;9 

the  women  to  dance  with  them;  sometimes  the  first 
waltz  they  conld  get  during  tlie  evening  would  not 
come  before  midnight.  I  think  it  would  have  been 
very  hard  for  me  to  have  kept  a  level  head  with  all  the 
attention  and  delightful  flattery  which  the  ordinary 
manners  of  officers  convey,  if  I  had  not  remembered 
how  we  ladies  were  always  in  the  minority.  The  ques- 
tion whether  one  was  old  or  young,  pretty  or  plain,  nev- 
er seemed  to  arise  with  them.  I  have  seen  them  solicit 
the  honor  of  taking  a  grandmamma  to  drive,  and  even 
to  ride  as  galhintly  as  if  she  were  young  and  fair.  Ino 
men  discover  beauty  and  youth  more  quickl}',  but  the 
deference  they  feel  for  all  women  is  always  apparent. 

It  seemed  very  strange  to  me  that  with  all  the  value 
that  is  set  on  the  presence  of  the  women  of  an  officer's 
family  at  the  frontier  posts,  the  book  of  armj^  regula- 
tions makes  no  provision  for  them,  but  in  fact  ignores 
them  entirely  !  It  enters  into  such  minute  detail  in  its 
instructions,  even  giving  the  number  of  hours  that  bean- 
soup  should  boil,  that  it  would  be  natural  to  suppose 
that  a  paragraph  or  two  might  be  wasted  on  an  officer's 
wife!  The  servants  and  the  company  laundresses  are 
mentioned  as  being  entitled  to  quarters  and  rations  and 
to  the  services  of  the  surgeon.  If  an  officer's  wife  falls 
ill  she  cannot  claim  the  attention  of  the  doctor,  though 
it  is  almost 'unnecessary  to  say  that  she  has  it  through 
his  most  urgent  courtesy.  I  have  even  known  a  sur- 
geon, who  from  some  official  difficulty  was  not  on 
friendly  terms  with  an  officer,  go  personally  and  solicit 
the  privilege  of  prescribing  through  the  illness  of  his 
wife,  whom  he  knew  but  slightly. 


130  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

Tlie  officers  used  sportively  to  look  up  the  rules  in 
the  ariu_y  regulations  for  camp  followers,  and  read  them 
out  to  us  as  they  would  the  riot  act !  In  the  event  of 
any  question  being  raised  regarding  our  privileges,  we 
women  really  came  under  no  other  head  in  the  book 
which  is  the  sole  authority  for  our  arm3\  If  we  put 
down  an  eiuphatic  foot,  declaring  that  we  were  goino-  to 
take  some  decisive  step  to  which  they  w^ere  justly  op- 
posed as  involving  our  safety,  perha])S,  we  would  be  at 
once  reminded,  in  a  laughingly  exultant  manner,  of  the 
provision  of  the  law.  The  regulations  provide  that  the 
commanding  officer  has  complete  control  over  all  camp 
followers^  with  power  to  put  them  off  the  reservation 
or  detain  them  as  he  chooses.  Nevertheless,  though 
army  women  have  no  visible  thrones  or  sceptres,  nor 
any  acknowledged  rights  according  to  military  law,  I 
never  knew  such  tpieens  as  they,  or  saw  more  willing 
subjects  than  they  govern. 


A   "STRONG  HEART"   DANCE!  131 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

A   "  STRONG    heart"    DANCE ! 

The  Indian  scouts  employed  by  our  government  and 
living  at  our  post  belonged  to  a  tribe  called  the  Arick- 
arees.  This  tribe  was  small,  and  though  not  strong 
enough  in  numbers  to  attack  the  more  powerful  Sioux, 
there  was  implacable  enmity  between  them,  and  a  con- 
stant desire  for  revenge.  During  the  preceding  sum- 
mer a  band  of  Sioux  came  to  Fort  Lincoln,  and  drew 
the  scouts  belonging  to  the  infantry  garrison  out  of  their 
quarters  by  some  cunningly  devised  pretext.  Ko  sooner 
did  they  appear  than  they  were  fired  upon  by  the  Sioux. 
They  fought  all  day,  and  finally  the  Rees  succeeded  in 
driving  their  enemies  away.  All  this  took  place  right 
at  the  post,  where  the  firing  could  be  seen  from  the  win- 
dows. It  was  not  known  how  many  Sioux  were  killed, 
for  all  tribes  make  extraordinary  exertions  to  carry  their 
dead  from  the  field.  Four  only  were  left.  After  some 
months  the  Sioux,  for  some  reason  best  known  to  them- 
selves, sent  word  that  they  were  coming  for  a  treaty. 
The  Rees  prepared  to  receive  them  with  wdiat  they 
termed  a  "  Strong  Heart"  dance.  A  message  inviting 
the  garrison  was  sent  by  them,  through  the  interpret- 
er, and  we  hailed  with  relief  the  variety  in  our  exist- 
ence this  spectacle  would  afford.     Indian  life  was  still 


133  BOOTS   AND   SADDLES. 

:i  novelty  to  us,  for  we  had  not  been  witli  any  peaceable 
tribe  before  coming  into  Dakota.  "We  stowed  ourselves 
away  in  long  sleighs  which  took  ns  to  the  quarters  of 
the  scouts.  Their  buildings  were  of  logs,  and  were  long 
and  low  in  construction.  Around  the  walls  on  the  in- 
side were  bunks  on  which  were  marks  showing  the  quar- 
ters assigned  to  each  family.  When  the  outer  door 
closed  upon  us  we  could  scarcely  breathe ;  the  atnjos- 
phere  was  stifling,  and  loaded  with  the  odor  of  sn:!oked 
meat,  tanned  skins,  and  killikinick  tobacco.  The  place 
was  lighted  by  burning  logs  in  a  large  fireplace,  and 
the  deep  shadows  threw  into  high -relief  the  figures 
that  came  into  the  glare  of  the  fire,  and  produced 
eifects  from  which  Dore  might  liave  found  material  for 
a  most  powerful  work. 

Before  the  ceremonies  began,  we  women  went  round 
the  place  to  see  the  papooses  in  their  mothers'  arms,  as 
they  sat  in  the  bunks  or  on  the  earthen  floor.  Each  moth- 
er held  her  baby  up  for  our  inspection,  with  as  much 
pride  as  if  there  had  never  been  a  little  one  on  earth 
before.  The  squaws  were  not  ]>ermitted  to  come  near 
the  charmed  circle  in  front  of  the  fire,  where  the  mimic 
orchestra  beat  their  drums;  they  were  allowed  to  sing 
at  a  distance,  and  joined  in  the  low  monotone  of  the 
musicians.  At  regular  intervals,  as  if  keeping  time, 
they  jerked  out  a  nasal  twanging  note  which  was  em- 
phasized by  the  coarse  voices  of  the  Avarriors.  The 
dancers  were  naked,  except  for  the  customary  covering 
over  their  loins.  They  had  attached  to  their  belts  beads 
and  metal  ornaments.  Some  had  so  fastened  to  their 
girdles  the  feathers  from  the  tail  of  the  wild  turkey,  that 


A   "STRONG  HEART"   DANCE!  133 

thej  stood  up  straight  as  the  savages  hent  over  in  tlio 
evohitions  of  the  dance.  One  leg  and  arm  would  bo 
painted  bright  vermilion  or  blue,  and  the  other  a  vivid 
green,  with  cabalistic  characters  drawn  on  them  in  black. 
The  faces  were  hideous,  being  painted  in  all  colors.  A 
few  had  necklaces  of  bears'  claws,  on  which  thcj  set  great 
value.  These  hung  over  the  bronze  shoulders,  the  claws 
pointing  into  the  brown  skin  of  their  chests.  One,  evi- 
dently poorer  than  the  rest,  had  a  rudel  j  cut  shirt  made 
out  of  an  old  ham-bag,  on  which  the  trade-mark  and 
name  of  the  manufacturing  firm  figured  conspicuously 
as  his  sole  decoration.  Anotlier,  equally  poor,  wore  only 
the  covering  over  his  hips,  while  suspended  by  a  cord 
from  his  neck  was  a  huge  tin  toy  horse.  From  the  scalp- 
lock  of  some  there  was  a  strip  of  cloth  falling  to  the 
ground,  on  which  silver  disks  made  of  coins  were  fast- 
ened at  close  intervals. 

In  the  plait  of  hair  falling  to  their  waists  we  saw 
sticks  crossed  and  running  through  the  bi-aid.  Tiie  in- 
terpreter explained  that  these  represented  "coups."  Oui- 
attention  was  arrested  at  once  by  a  little  four-year-old 
boy,  who,  from  time  to  time  during  the  evening,  was 
brought  to  the  circle  by  his  mother,  and  left  to  make 
liis  little  whirling  gyrations  around  the  ring  of  the  dan- 
cers. It  was  explained  to  us  that  he  liad  won  his  right 
to  join  in  the  festivities  of  the  tribe  when  the  fight  took 
place  the  summer  before,  to  settle  which  this  treaty  was 
planned.  Of  the  four  Sioux  left  on  the  battle-lield  that 
day,  one,  though  mortally  wounded,  was  not  yet  dead 
when  the  retreat  took  place.  A  Kee  squaw,  knowing 
that  it  would  count  her  child  "a  coup"  if  he  put  an- 


134  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

other  wound  in  the  ah-eady  dying  man,  sent  him  out 
and  incited  the  cliild  to  plunge  a  knife  into  the  wound- 
ed warrior.  As  a  reward  he  was  given  tlie  privilege  of 
joining  in  all  celebrations,  and  the  right  to  wear  an  eagle 
feather  standing  straight  from  the  scalp-lock  of  his  tiny 
head.  We  saw  the  mother's  eyes  gleam  with  pride  as 
she  watched  this  miniature  warrior  admitted  among  the 
mature  and  experienced  braves.  All  the  dancers  rotated 
around  together  for  a  time,  their  bodies  always  bent, 
and  they  howled  as  they  moved.  In  the  shadowy  gloom, 
only  momentarily  made  brilliant  by  the  flashes  of  light 
from  the  fire,  these  grotesque,  crouching  figures  were 
wild  enough  for  gnomes.  Only  occasionally,  where 
there  was  a  large  mixture  of  white  blood,  did  we  see  a 
well-developed  figure.  The  legs  and  arms  of  Indians 
are  almost  invariably  thin.  None  of  them  ever  do  any 
manual  labor  to  produce  muscle,  and  their  bones  are  de- 
cidedly conspicuous. 

We  were  surprised  to  observe  that  though  dancing  in 
so  small  a  space,  and  weaving  in  and  out  in  countless 
figures,  without  an  apparent  effort  to  avoid  collisions, 
they  never  interfered  or  caught  their  brandished  weap- 
ons in  the  ornaments  of  one  another's  toggery.  When 
a  warrior  wished  to  speak,  he  made  some  sign  to  the 
others.  They  then  sat  down  around  him,  and  the  music 
ceased.  lie  began  with  a  recital  of  his  achievements — • 
Indians  never  fail  to  recapitulate  these  as  a  preface  to 
each  speech.  Sometimes  the  speaker's  career  was  illus- 
trated, and  a  cotton  sheet  was  unfolded  on  which  were 
painted  a  number  of  primitive  figures.  He  gradually 
grew  more  and  more  earnest;  his  dull  eyes  glared  as  he 


A   "STRONG   OEART"   DANCE!  135 

pointed  to  the  scaljis  he  liad  taken,  which  were  even 
then  dangling  from  his  belt.  Finally  the  warrior  began 
to  give  presents,  and  to  receive  them  in  return,  as  is  the 
custom  on  those  occasions.  If  he  gave  a  pon}',  ho  de- 
clared it  by  throwing  down  a  stick  on  which  were  cut 
notches  that  signified  the  gift  to  the  recipient. 

After  several  had  told  their  "  coups,"  for  so  they  des- 
ignate their  deeds  of  prowess,  one  bounded  with  great 
energy  into  the  circle.  He  narrated  Nvitli  spirit  how  he 
had  revenged  the  death  of  two  of  their  band  by  killing 
the  murderer  at  the  last  fight  at  the  post.  Before  any 
one  realized  it,  an  old  squaw  pushed  her  way  violently 
into  the  open  space,  threw  down  a  roll  of  calico  at  his 
feet,  and  flung  off  her  leggings  and  blanket  as  presents 
in  her  gratitude,  for  it  was  of  her  husband  and  son  that 
he  spoke.  As  she  was  about  to  conjplete  the  gift  by 
removing  her  last  garment,  the  interpreter,  in  considera- 
tion for  us,  hurried  her  out  to  her  bunk  in  the  darkness, 
and  we  saw  her  no  more.  Last  of  all  an  old  Sioux, 
wrapped  in  a  black  mourning  blanket,  tottered  into  the 
circle,  and  silence  settled  down  on  all.  lie  spoke  of 
his  son  who  had  been  in  the  fight,  and  had  fallen  brave- 
ly, but  said  that  before  he  was  killed  he  had  made 
many  Rees  "bite  the  dust,"  as  he  then  figurative- 
ly expressed  it.  Excited  by  the  story  of  the  courage 
of  his  offspring,  he  tottered  back  to  his  place,  but  his 
pride  soon  succumbed  to  his  greater  sorrow ;  he  buried 
his  head  in  his  blanket  when  he  sank  down  to  his  seat. 
Hardly  had  he  ceased,  before  a  young  Ree  leaped  into 
the  midst  of  the  warriors,  threw  off  his  blanket,  and 
with  flashing  eye  plunged  into  a  hurried  enumeration 


136  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

of  his  achievements,  to  prove  his  courage  in  days  past. 
Then,  striding  up  to  the  bereaved  father,  he  said  in  exult- 
ant, imperious  tones,  "Boast  no  longer  of  the  successes 
of  your  dead,  I  who  stand  here  am  he  who  killed  him  !" 
The  father  did  not  even  raise  his  eyes.  The  Ree 
called  out  to  the  listening  warriors,  "  Will  he  not  fight 
me?  I  stand  ready."  The  old  warrior  remained  un- 
moved, even  under  the  insolent  words  of  the  aggressor. 
Many  years  of  an  eventful  life  had  made  him  too  well 
versed  in,  and  too  subservient  to  the  laws  of  Indian 
warfare,  not  to  know  that  a  "Strong  Heart"  dance 
bound  all  in  inviolable  honor  not  to  break  the  tempo- 
rary peace ;  but  he  knew  that  once  meeting  each  other 
on  the  open  plain  there  were  no  restrictions. 

"When  we  left  the  unearthly  music,  the  gloom,  and  the 
barbaric  sights,  and  breathed  pore  air  again,  it  seemed 
as  if  we  had  escaped  from  pandemonium. 

One  morning  soon  after  that  we  heard  singing,  and 
found  that  the  scpiaws  were  surging  down  from  their 
quarters  nearly  a  mile  distant.  We  had  not  received  a 
hint  of  the  honor  to  be  conferred,  and  were  mystified 
when  they  all  halted  in  front  of  our  house.  They  had 
come  to  give  us  a  dance.  It  was  an  unusual  occurrence, 
for  the  women  rarely  take  part  in  any  but  the  most 
menial  services.  They  were  headed  by  Mrs.  Long  Back, 
the  wife  of  the  chief  of  the  scouts.  She  was  distin- 
guished as  the  leader  by  a  tall  dress-hat  that  had  been 
the  property  of  some  society  man  when  he  wore  civilian 
dress  in  the  States.  They  began  going  around  after 
each  other  in  a  jogging,  lumbering  sort  of  movement, 
and  singing  a  humdrum  song  in  a  minor  key.    Much  of 


A   "STRONG   HEART"   DANCE!  137 

the  finery  we  had  seen  at  tlic  gemiinc  war-dance  was 
borrowed  from  the  warriors  for  this  occasion.  It  was 
festooned  over  the  figures  of  the  women  already  well 
covered  with  blankets,  and  the  weight  was  not  calculated 
to  add  materially  to  their  grace.  The  ranking  lady  had 
a  sabre  which  her  chief  had  received  as  a  present,  and 
this  she  waved  over  the  others  in  command.  One  wom- 
an carried  her  six-wceks'-old  papoose  on  her  back,  and 
its  little,  lolling  head  rolled  from  side  to  side  as  the 
mother  trotted  round  and  round  after  the  others. 

During  the  dance  one  of  the  ofiicers'  colored  servants 
rushed  out,  and  in  his  excitement  almost  ran  his  head 
into  the  chaniied  precincts.  An  infuriated  squaw,  to 
whom  all  this  mummery  was  the  gravest  and  most  mo- 
mentous of  concerns,  flew  at  him,  brandishing  a  toma- 
hawk over  his  head.  He  had  no  need  to  cry,  "  O,  that 
this  too,  too  solid  flesh  would  melt !"  for  his  manner  of 
vanishing  was  little  short  of  actual  evaporation  into  air. 
Neither  his  master  nor  any  one  else  saw  him  for  twenty- 
four  hours  afterwards. 

When  the  women  stopped  their  circumvolutions  for 
want  of  breath,  we  appeared  on  the  porch  and  made 
signs  of  thanks.  They  received  them  with  placid  self- 
satisfaction,  but  the  more  substantial  recognition  of  the 
general's  thanks,  in  the  shape  of  a  beef,  they  acknowl- 
edged more  warmly. 


138  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

GARRISON"   LIFE. 

There  were  about  forty  in  our  garrison  circle,  and 
as  w'c  were  very  harmonious  we  spent  nearly  every 
evening  together.  I  think  it  is  the  general  belief  that 
the  peace  of  an  army  post  depends  very  much  upon  the 
example  set  by  the  commanding  officer.  My  husband, 
in  the  six  years  previous,  had  made  it  very  clear,  in  a 
quiet  way,  that  he  would  much  prefer  that  there  should 
be  no  conversation  detrimental  to  others  in  his  quarters. 
It  required  no  effort  for  him  to  refrain  from  talking 
about  his  neighbors,  but  it  was  a  great  deprivation  to 
me  occasionally.  Once  in  a  while,  when  some  one  had 
brought  down  wrath  upon  his  or  her  head  by  doing 
something  deserving  of  censure,  the  whole  garrison 
was  voluble  in  its  denunciation ;  and  if  I  plunged  into 
the  subject  also  and  gave  my  opinion,  I  soon  noticed 
my  husband  grow  silent  and  finally  slip  away.  I  was 
not  long  in  finding  an  excuse  to  follow  him  and  ask 
what  I  had  done.  Of  course  I  knew  him  too  well  not 
to  divine  that  I  had  hurt  him  in  some  manner.  Then 
he  would  make  a  renewed  appeal  to  me  beginning  by  an 
unanswerable  plea,  ''if  you  wish  to  please  me,"  and  im- 
ploring me  not  to  join  in  discussions  concerning  any 
one.    lie  used  to  assure  me  that  in  his  heart  he  believed 


of  pol 

se-:     " 
th: 


that 


u 


neve: 


long©: 


GJLBBK'D'y  Lim  139 


a 


tiie-r: 

te:-  -:-    :                .   diiis- 

trOuaw 

I'.  "     ';                   .::_:. 

TL  -  -             : 

ori  -  .               -     -  -  55. 


140  DOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

pitable  upon  principle.  As  every  one  visited  us,  there 
was  no  escape  for  me,  but  I  do  not  like  to  think  now 
of  having  welcomed  any  one  from  whom  I  inwardly 
recoiled. 

I  was  not  let  off  on  such  occasions  with  any  formal 
shake  of  the  hand.  My  husband  watched  me,  and  if  I 
was  not  sufficiently  cordial  he  gave  me,  afterwards,  in 
our  bedroom,  a  burlesque  imitation  of  my  manner.  I 
could  not  help  laughing,  even  when  annoyed,  to  see  him 
caricature  me  by  advancing  coldly,  extending  the  tips  of 
his  fingers,  and  bowing  loftily  to  some  imaginary  guest. 
II is  raillery,  added  to  my  wish  to  please  him,  had  the 
effect  of  making  me  sliake  hands  so  vigorously  that  I 
came  near  erring  the  other  way  and  being  too  demon- 
strative, and  thus  giving  the  impression  that  I  was  the 
best  friend  of  some  one  I  really  dreaded. 

As  I  was  in  the  tent  during  so  many  summers,  and 
almost  constantly  in  my  husband's  library  in  our  winter 
quarters,  I  naturally  learned  something  of  what  was 
transpiring.  I  soon  found,  however,  that  it  would  do 
no  good  if  I  asked  questions  in  the  hope  of  gaining  fur- 
ther information.  As  to  curiosity  ever  being  one  of 
my  conspicuous  faults,  I  do  not  remember,  but  I  do 
recollect  m.ost  distinctly  how  completely  I  was  taken 
aback  by  an  occurrence  which  took  place  a  short  time 
after  we  were  married.  I  had  asked  some  idle  question 
about  official  matters,  and  was  promptly  informed  in  a 
grave  manner,  though  with  a  mischievous  twinkle  of  the 
eye,  that  whatever  information  I  wanted  could  be  had  by 
application  to  the  adjutant-general.  This  was  the  ster- 
eotyped form  of  endorsement  on  papers  sent  up  to  the 


GARRISON   LIFE.  141 

regimental  adjutant  asking  for  information.  One  inci- 
dent of  many  comes  to  me  now,  proving  liow  little  I  knew 
of  anything  but  what  pertained  to  our  own  home  cir- 
cle. Tlie  wife  of  an  ofticer  once  treated  me  with  marked 
coldness.  I  was  nnaware  of  having  hurt  her  in  any  waj^ 
and  at  once  took  my  grievance  to  that  source  where  I 
found  sympatliy  for  the  smallest  woe.  My  husband 
pondered  a  moment,  and  then  remembered  that  the 
Imsband  of  my  friend  and  he  had  had  some  sliglit  offi- 
cial difficulty,  and  the  lady  thinking  I  knew  of  it  was 
taking  her  revenge  on  me. 

When  I  first  entered  army  life  I  used  to  wonder  what 
it  meant  when  I  heard  officers  say,  in  a  perfectly  serious 

voice,  "Mrs. commands  her  husband's  company." 

It  was  my  good-fortune  not  to  encounter  any  such  fe- 
male grenadiers.  A  circumstance  occurred  wdiicli  made 
me  retire  early  from  any  attempt  to  assume  the  slightest 
authority.  One  of  the  inexhaustible  jokes  that  the  offi- 
cers never  permitted  me  to  forget  M-as  an  occurrence 
that  happened  soon  after  the  general  took  command  of 
the  Tth  Cavalry.  A  soldier  had  deserted,  and  had  stolen 
a  large  sum  of  money  from  one  cf  the  lieutenants.  My 
sympathy  was  so  aroused  for  the  officer  that  I  ui-ged 
liim  to  lose  no  time  in  pursuing  the  man  to  the  nearest 
town,  whither  he  was  known  to  have  gone.  In  my  in- 
terest and  zeal  I  assured  the  officer  that  I  knew  the 
general  would  be  willing,  and  he  need  not  wait  to  apply 
for  leave  through  the  adjutant's  office.  I  even  hurried 
him  away.  When  the  general  came  in  I  ran  to  him 
with  my  story,  expecting  his  sympathy,  and  that  he 
would  endorse  all  that  I  had  done.    On  the  contrary,  lie 


142  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

quietly  assured  me  that  ho  commanded  the  regiment, 
and  that  he  would  like  me  to  make  it  known  to  the 
lieutenant  that  he  must  apply  through  the  proper  chan- 
nels for  leave  of  absence.  Thereupon  I  ate  a  large 
piece  of  humble  pie,  but  was  relieved  to  find  that  the 
officer  had  shown  more  sense  than  I,  and  had  not  ac- 
cepted my  proferred  leave,  but  had  prudently  waited 
to  write  out  his  application.  Years  afterwards,  when  my 
husband  told  me  what  a  source  of  pride  it  was  to  him 
that  others  had  realized  how  little  I  knew  about  official 
affairs,  and  assured  me  that  my  curiosity  was  less  than 
that  of  any  woman  he  had  ever  known,  I  took  little 
credit  to  myself.  It  would  have  been  strange,  after  the 
drilling  of  military  life,  if  I  had  not  attained  some 
progress. 

The  general  planned  every  military  action  with  so 
much  secrecy  that  we  were  left  to  divine  as  best  W'C 
could  what  certain  preliminary  movements  meant.  One 
morning,  when  it  was  too  cold  for  anything  but  impor- 
tant duty,  without  any  explanations  he  started  off  with 
a  company  of  cavalry  and  several  wagons.  As  they 
crossed  the  river  on  the  ice,  we  surmised  that  he  was 
going  to  Bismarck.  It  seemed  that  the  general  had 
been  suspicious  that  the  granaries  were  being  robbed, 
and  finally  a  citizen  was  caught  driving  off  a  loaded 
wagon  of  oats  from  the  reservation  in  broad  daylight. 
This  was  about  as  high-handed  an  instance  of  thieving  as 
the  general  had  encountered,  and  he  quietly  set  to  work 
to  find  out  the  accomplices.  In  a  little  while  it  was 
ascertained  that  the  robbers  had  concealed  their  plunder 
in  a  vacant  store  in  the  principal  street  of  Bismarck. 


GARRISON   LIFE.  143 

The  general  detennined  to  go  himself  directly  to  the 
town,  thinking  that  he  could  do  quickly  and  without 
opposition  w^hat  another  might  find  difficult.  The  better 
class  of  citizens  honored  him  too  highly  to  oppose  his 
plan  of  action,  even  though  it  was  unprecedented  for 
the  military  to  enter  a  town  on  such  an  errand.  The 
general  knew  the  exact  place  at  which  to  halt^and  drew 
the  company  up  in  line  in  front  of  the  door.  lie  de- 
manded the  key,  and  directed  the  men  to  transfer  the 
grain  to  the  wagons  outside.  Without  a  protest,  or  an 
exchange  of  words  even,  the  troops  marched  out  of  the 
town  as  quietly  as  they  had  entered.  This  ended  the 
grain  thefts. 

It  was  a  surprise  to  me  that  after  the  life  of  excite- 
ment my  husband  had  led,  he  should  grow  more  and 
more  domestic  in  his  tastes.  His  daily  life  M'as  very 
simple.  He  rarely  left  home  except  to  hunt,  and  was 
scarcely  once  a  year  in  the  sutler's  store,  where  the  offi- 
cers congregated  to  play  billiards  and  cards.  If  the 
days  were  too  storn)y  or  too  cold  for  hunting,  as  they 
often  were  for  a  week  or  more  at  a  time,  he  wrote  and 
studied  for  hours  every  day.  AVe  had  the  good-fortune 
to  Lave  a  billiard-table  loaned  us  by  the  sutler,  and  in 
the  upper  room  where  it  was  placed,  my  husband  and  I 
had  many  a  game  when  he  was  weary  with  writiiig. 

The  general  sometimes  sketched  the  outline  of  my 
pictures,  which  I  was  preparing  to  paint,  for  he  drew 
better  than  I  did,  and  gladly  availed  himself  of  a  chance 
to  secure  variety  of  occupation. 

The  relatives  of  the  two  young  housemaids  whom  we 
bad  in  our  service  regretted  that   they  were  missing 


144  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

school,  SO  the  general  had  the  patience  to  teach  them. 
The  day  rarely  passed  that  Col.  Tom,  my  husband,  and 
I  did  not  have  a  game  of  romps.  The  grave  orderly 
who  sat  by  the  hall-door  used  to  bo  shocked  to  see  the 
commanding  officer  in  hot  pursuit  of  us  up  the  steps. 
The  quick  transformation  which  took  place  when  he  was 
called  from  the  frolic  to  receive  the  report  of  the  ofHcer 
of  the  day  was  something  very  ridiculous. 

Occasionally  he  joined  those  who  gathered  in  our 
parlor  every  evening.  He  had  a  very  keen  sense  of  his 
social  responsibilities  as  post-commander,  and  believed 
that  our  house  should  be  open  at  all  hours  to  the  garri- 
son. Ilis  own  studious  habits  made  it  a  deprivation  if 
lie  gave  up  much  of  his  time  to  entertaining.  I  learned 
that  in  no  way  could  I  relieve  him  so  much  as  by  being 
alwaj'S  ready  to  receive.  He  grew  to  expect  that  I 
would  be  in  the  parlor  at  night,  and  plan  whatever  di- 
versions we  had.  I  managed  to  slip  away  several  times 
in  the  evening,  and  go  to  him  for  a  little  visit,  or  possi- 
bly a  waltz,  while  the  rest  danced  in  the  other  room. 
H  I  delayed  going  to  him  while  absorbed  in  the  general 
amusement,  a  knock  at  the  door  announced  the  orderly 
carrying  a  note  for  me.  Those  missives  always  reminded 
me  of  my  forgetfulncss  in  some  ingenious  arrangement 
of  words.  When  I  laughed  outright  over  one  of  these 
little  scraps,  our  friends  begged  me  to  share  the  fun 
with  them.  It  was  only  a  line,  and  read,  "Do  you 
think  I  am  a  confirmed  monk  ?"  Of  course  they  insisted 
laughingly  upon  my  going  at  once  to  the  self-appointed 
hermit. 

We  spent  the  days  together  almost  uninterruptedly 


GARRISON   LIFE.  145 

during  the  winter.  The  garrison  gave  mc  those  hours 
and  left  lis  alone.  My  husband  had  arranged  my  sew- 
ing-chair and  work-basket  next  to  his  desk,  and  he  read 
to  me  constantly.  At  one  time  we  had  read  five  author- 
ities on  Napoleon,  whose  military  career  was  a  nevcr- 
endinf":  source  of  interest  to  him.  lie  studied  so  care- 
fully  that  he  kept  the  atlas  before  him,  and  marked  the 
course  of  the  two  armies  of  the  French  and  English 
with  pencils  of  different  color.  One  of  his  favorite 
books  was  a  life  of  Daniel  Webster,  given  liim  in  the 
States  by  a  dear  friend.  Anything  sad  moved  him  so 
tliat  his  voice  clioked  with  emotion,  and  I  have  known 
him  lay  down  the  book  and  tell  me  he  could  not  go  on. 
One  of  the  many  passages  in  that  beautifully  written 
book,  which  my  husband  thought  the  most  utterl}^  pa- 
thetic of  all,  was  the  tribute  an  old  farmer  had  paid  to 
the  dead  statesman.  Looking  down  upon  the  face  of 
the  orator  for  the  last  time,  the  old  man  says,  in  solilo- 
quy, "Ah,  Daniel,  the  world  will  be  lonesome  now  you 
are  gone  1" 

I  became  so  accustomed  to  this  quiet  life  in  the 
library  with  my  husband  that  I  rarely  went  out.  If  I 
did  begin  the  rounds  of  our  little  circle  with  our  girl- 
friend, whom  every  one  besought  to  visit  them,  an 
orderly  soon  followed  us  up.  Without  the  glint  of  a 
smile,  and  in  exactly  the  tone  of  a  man  giving  the  order 
for  a  battle,  he  said,  "The  general  presents  his  compli- 
ments, and  would  like  to  know  when  he  shall  send  the 
trunks?"  I  recollect  a  message  of  this  sort  being  once 
brought  to  us  when  we  were  visiting  an  intimate  friend, 
by  tlie  tallest,  most  formidable  soldier  in  the  regiment. 

7 


146  BOOTS   AND   SADDLES. 

It  was  a  mystery  to  lis  liow  lie  managed  to  deliver  Lis 
errand  without  moving  a  muscle  of  liis  face.  He  pre- 
sented the  compliments  of  the  commanding  officer,  and 
added,  "  He  sent  you  these."  We  did  not  trust  our- 
selves to  look  up  at  his  lofty  face,  but  took  from  his  ex- 
tended hands  two  bundles  of  white  muslin,  Tliere  was 
110  mistaking  the  shape;  they  were  our  night-dresses. 
When  we  hurried  home,  and  took  the  general  to  task 
for  making  us  face  the  solemn  orderly,  he  only  replied 
by  asking  if  we  had  intended  to  stay  forever,  pointing 
to  his  open  watch,  and  speaking  of  the  terrors  of  solitary 
confinement ! 

It  was  the  custom  at  guard  mount  eveiy  morning  to 
select  the  cleanest,  most  soldierlj^-looking  man  for  duty 
as  orderly  for  the  post-commander.  It  was  considered 
the  highest  honor,  and  really  was  something  of  a  lioli-. 
day,  as  the  man  detailed  for  this  duty  had  but  little  to 
do,  and  then  had  his  night  in  bed  ;  otherwise,  belonging 
to  the  guard,  and  being  newly  appointed  every  twenty- 
four  hours,  he  would  have  been  obliged  to  break  his  rest 
to  go  on  picket  duty  at  intervals  all  night.  There  was 
great  strife  to  get  this  position,  and  it  was  difiicult  for 
the  adjutant  to  make  the  selection.  He  sometimes 
carried  his  examination  so  far  as  to  try  and  find  dust 
on  the  carbines  with  his  cambric  handkerchief. 

Guard  mount  in  pleasant  weather,  with  the  adjutant 
and  officer  of  the  day  in  full  uniform,  each  soldier  per- 
fect in  dress,  with  the  band  playing,  was  a  very  interest- 
ing ceremonj'.  In  Dakota's  severe  cold  it  looked  like 
a  parade  of  animals  at  the  Zoo !  All  were  compelled  to 
wear  buffalo  overcoats  and  shoes,  fur  caps  and  gloves. 


GARRISON   LIFE.  147 

When  tlio  orderly  removed  these  heavy  outside  wraps, 
however,  he  stood  out  as  tine  a  sj>eciincn  of  manhood 
as  one  ever  sees.  His  phice  in  our  liall  was  near  the 
stove,  and  on  the  table  by  his  side  were  papers  and 
magazines,  many  of  which  were  sent  by  the  Yonng 
Men's  Christian  Association  of  New  York.  The  general 
had  once  met  the  secretary  of  the  society,  and  in  re- 
sponse to  his  inquirjf  about  reading-matter,  he  impressed 
him  by  a  strong  statement  of  what  a  treasure  anything 
of  the  kind  was  at  an  isolated  post. 

There  was  usually  a  variety  of  reading-matter,  but 
one  day  the  orderly  stole  out  to  the  cook  with  a  com- 
plaint, lie  asked  for  the  general's  Tarf\  Field,  and 
Farm,  or  Wilkes's  /Spirit  of  the  Times,  which  he  Avas 
accustomed  to  find  awaiting  him,  and  confessed  that 
"those  pious  papers  were  too  bagoted"  fur  him!  lie 
usually  sat  still  all  day,  only  taking  an  occasional  mes- 
sage for  the  general,  or  responding  to  a  beckoning  invi- 
tation from  Mary's  brown  finger  at  the  kitchen -door. 
There  he  found  a  little  offering  from  her  of  home 
things  to  eat.  Occasionally,  in  the  evening,  the  general 
forgot  to  dismiss  him  at  taps.  After  that  a  warning 
cough  issued  from  the  hall.  When  this  had  been  re- 
peated several  times,  my  husband  used  to  look  up  so 
merrily  and  say  to  me  it  was  remarkable  how  temporary 
consumption  increased  after  the  hour  of  bedtime  had 
come.  When  the  general  had  a  message  to  send,  he 
opened  his  door  and  rattled  ofi  his  order  so  fast  that  it 
was  almost  impossible  for  one  unacquainted  with  his 
voice  to  understand.  If  I  saw  the  dazed  eyes  of  a  new 
soldier,   I   divined   that  probably  he  did  not  catch   a 


148  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

word.  Witliont  the  general's  noticing  it,  I  slipped 
through  our  rooin  into  tlie  hall  and  translated  the  mes- 
sage to  him. 

When  I  returned,  and  gave  my  husband  the  best  imi- 
tation I  could  of  the  manner  in  which  he  spoke  when 
linrried,  and  described  tlie  orderly,  standing,  rubbing 
his  perplexed  head  over  the  unintelligible  gibberish,  he 
threw  himself  on  the  lounge  in  peals  of  laughter. 
While  we  were  in  the  States,  sometimes  he  was  in- 
vited to  address  audiences,  but  being  unaccustomed  to 
public  speaking,  and  easily  embarrassed,  he  made  very 
droll  attempts.  lie  realized  that  he  had  not  the  gift 
of  oratory,  and  I  used  to  wish  that  he  would  practise 
the  art.  I  insisted,  that  if  he  continued  to  speak  so 
fast  in  public,  I  would  be  obliged  to  stand  beside  him 
on  the  platform  as  interpreter  for  his  hearers,  or  else 
take  my  position  in  the  audience  and  send  him  a  sign 
of  warning  from  there.  I  proposed  to  do  something  so 
startling  that  he  could  not  help  checking  his  mad  speed. 
He  was  so  earnest  about  everything  he  did,  I  assured 
him  no  ordinary  signal  would  answer,  and  we  finished 
the  laughing  discussion  by  my  volunteering  to  rise  in 
the  audience  the  next  time  he  spoke,  and  raise  an  uui. 
brella  as  a  warning  to  slacken  up! 


GENERAL   CUSTER'S  LITERARY   WORK.  149 


CHAPTER  XV. 

GENERAL    CUSTEr's    LITERARY   WORK. 

When  inj  Imsband  began  to  write  for  publication,  it 
opened  to  liim  a  world  of  interest,  and  afterwards  proved 
an  unfailing  source  of  occupation  in  the  long  Dakota 
winters.  I  think  he  had  no  idea,  when  it  was  iirst  sug- 
gested to  him,  that  he  could  write.  When  we  were  in 
New  York,  several  years  before,  he  told  me  how  per- 
fectly surprised  he  was  to  have  one  of  the  magazine 
editors  seek  him  out  and  ask  him  to  contribute  articles 
every  month.  And  a  few  days  after  he  said,  "I  begin 
to  think  the  editor  does  not  imagine  that  I  am  hesitating 
about  accepting  his  offer  because  T  doubt  my  ability  as 
a  writer,  but  because  he  said  nothing  about  payment  at 
first;  for  to-day,"  he  added,  not  yet  over  his  surprise 
at  what  seemed  to  him  a  large  sum,  "he  came  again 
and  offered  me  a  hundred  dollars  for  each  contribu- 
tion." AV^e  at  once  seemed  to  ourselves  bonanzas.  Many 
times  afterwards  we  enjoyed  intensely  the  little  pleas- 
ures and  luxuries  given  us  by  what  his  pen  added  to  the 
family  exchequer. 

On  the  frontier,  where  the  commanding  officer  keeps 
open  house,  he  has  little  opportunity  to  have  more  than 
a  passing  glimpse  of  his  pay  accounts,  so  quickly  do 
they  go  to  settle  table  expenses.     It  nuidc  very  little 


150  BOOTS  AXD   SADDLES. 

difference  to  us,  though ;  our  tastes  became  more 
simple  each  year  that  we  lived  so  much  out-of-doors. 
There  was  little  dress  competition  in  garrison,  and  in 
no  way  could  we  enjoy  the  generaFs  salary  more  than 
in  entertaining. 

At  our  first  post  after  the  war,  the  idle  tediousness  of 
the  life  was  in  such  contrast  to  tlie  whirl  and  dash  of 
the  years  just  passed  that  the  days  seemed  insupporta- 
ble to  my  husband.  While  there  we  entertained  a 
charming  officer  of  the  old  school.  Ilis  experience  and 
age  made  me  venture  to  speak  to  him  confidentially  of 
the  sympathy  I  felt  for  the  aimlessness  of  niy  husband's 
life.  I  was  in  despair  trying  to  tliink  of  some  way  in 
w'hich  to  vary  the  monotony ;  for  though  he  said  little, 
I  could  see  how  he  fretted  and  chafed  under  such  an 
existence.  The  old  officer  appreciated  wliat  I  told  him, 
and  after  thinking  seriously  for  a  time,  urged  me  to  try 
and  induce  him  to  explore  new  territory  and  write  de- 
scriptive articles  for  publication.  AVhen  the  actual  offer 
came  afterwards,  it  seemed  to  me  heaven-sent.  I  used 
every  persuasive  argument  in  my  power  to  induce  hin.i 
to  accept.  I  thought  only  of  its  filling  up  the  idle 
hours.  I  believed  that  he  liad  the  gift  of  a  ready  writer, 
for  though  naturally  reticent,  he  could  talk  remarl^ably 
well  when  started.  I  had  learned  to  practise  a  little 
stratagem  in  order  to  draw  him  out.  I  used  to  begin  a 
story  and  purposely  bungle,  so  that,  in  despair,  he  would 
take  it  up,  and  in  rapid  graphic  sentences  place  the 
whole  scene  before  us.  Afterwards  he  w^'is  commended 
for  writing  as  he  talked,  and  making  his  descriptions  of 
plains  life  "  jien  pictures." 


GENERAL   CUSTER'S  LITERARY  WORK.  151 

The  general  said  to  me  that  it  was  with  difficulty  he 
suppressed  a  smile  when  his  publisher  remarked  to  him 
that  liis  writing  showed  the  result  of  great  care  and 
painstaking.  Tlie  truth  was,  he  dashed  off  page  after 
page  without  copying  or  correcting.  He  had  no  dates 
or  journal  to  aid  him,  but  trusted  to  his  memory  to  take 
him  back  over  a  period  of  sixteen  years.  I  sat  beside 
him  while  he  wrote,  and  sometimes  thought  liim  too  in- 
tent on  his  work  to  notice  my  going  away,  lie  would 
follow  shortly,  and  declare  that  he  would  not  write  an- 
other line  unless  I  returned.  This  was  an  effectual 
threat,  for  he  was  constantly  behind,  and  even  out  there 
heard  the  cry  fur  "copy"  which  the  printer's  devil  is 
always  represented  as  making.  I  never  had  anything 
to  do  with  his  writing,  except  to  be  the  prod  which 
drove  him  to  begin.  lie  used  to  tell  me  that  on  some 
near  date  he  had  promised  an  article,  and  would  ask  me 
solemnly  to  declare  to  him  that  I  would  give  him  no 
peace  until  he  had  prepared  the  material.  In  vain  I  re- 
plied that  to  accept  the  position  of  "nag"  and  "tor- 
ment" was  far  from  desirable.    He  exacted  the  promise. 

When  he  was  in  the  mood  for  writing,  we  used  laugh- 
ingly to  refer  to  it  to  each  other  as  "genius  burning." 
At  such  times  wo  printed  on  a  card,  '^  this  is  my  busy 
day,"  and  hung  it  on  the  door.  It  was  my  part  to  go 
out  and  propitiate  those  who  objected  to  the  general 
shutting  himself  up  to  work. 

While  my  father  lived,  he  used  to  ask  me  if  I  real- 
ized what  an  eventful  life  I  was  leading,  and  never 
ceased  to  inquire  in  his  letters  if  I  was  keeping  a  jour- 
nal.    When  the  most  interesting  portions  of  our  lifo 


152  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

were  passing,  each  day  represented  such  a  struggle  on 
my  part  to  endure  tlie  fatigues  and  hardships  that  I  had 
no  energy  left  to  write  a  line  when  the  evening  came. 
My  husband  tried  for  years  to  incite  me  to  -write,  and 
besought  me  to  make  an  attempt  as  I  sat  by  him  while 
lie  worked.  I  greatly  regret  that  I  did  not,  for  if  I  had 
I  would  not  now  be  entirely  without  notes  or  dates,  and 
obliged  to  trust  wholly  to  memoiy  for  events  of  our  life 
eleven  years  ago. 

Wlien  my  husband  returned  from  the  East  in  the 
spring  of  1876  he  had  hardly  finished  his  greeting  bo- 
fore  he  said,  "Let  me  get  a  book  that  I  have  been  read- 
ing, and  whicli  I  have  marked  for  you."  While  he 
sought  it  in  his  travelling-bag  I  brought  one  to  him, 
telling  him  that  I  had  underlined  much  of  it  for  him, 
and  though  it  was  a  novel,  and  he  rarely  read  novels, 
he  must  make  this  book  an  exception.  What  was  our 
surprise  to  find  that  we  had  selected  the  same  story,  and 
marked  many  of  the  same  passages!  One  sentiment 
which  the  general  had  enclosed  with  double  brackets  in 
pencil,  was  a  line  spoken  by  the  hero,  who  is  an  author. 
He  begs  the  heroine  to  write  magazine  articles,  assuring 
her  she  can  do  far  better  than  he  ever  did. 

Once,  when  on  leave  of  absence,  the  general  dined 
with  an  old  officer,  whose  high  character  and  long  ex- 
perience made  whatever  he  said  of  real  value.  lie  con- 
gratulated my  husband  on  his  success  as  a  M'riter,  but 
added,  with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye,  "  Custer,  they  say  that 
your  wife  M'rote  the  magazine  articles."  "If  they  say 
that,"  replied  my  husband,  "  they  pay  me  the  highest 
compliment  that  I  could  possibly  receive."   "  Ah,  well," 


GENERAL   CUSTER'S  LITERARY   WORK.  153 

replied  the  generous  friend,  "  whoever  wrote  them  they 
certainly  reflect  great  credit  on  the  family."  My  hus- 
band wrote  much,  but  was  not  a  voluble  talker.  As  I 
liave  said,  most  of  the  entertaining  devolved  upon  me, 
and  the  fact  that  I  often  spoke  of  the  scenes  in  his 
"Life  on  the  Plains"  that  we  had  shared  together,  must 
have  been  the  reason  why  some  persons  listening  to  the 
oft-repeated  stories  ascribed  the  book  to  me. 

As  for  my  congratulations,  the  very  highest  meed  of 
praise  I  could  give  him  was  that  he  had  not  taken  the 
opportunity  offered  in  describing  his  life  in  the  book  to 
defend  himself  against  the  unjust  charges  of  his  ene- 
mies. I  had  found  that  tliey  expected  and  dreaded  it, 
for  "the  pen  is  mightier  than  the  sword,"  and  military 
people  are  quick  to  realize  it.  My  husband  appreciated 
my  having  noticed  what  he  studied  to  avoid,  though 
while  I  commended,  I  frankly  owned  I  could  not  have 
been  equal  to  the  task  of  resisting  what  could  not  but 
be  a  temptation  to  retaliate. 


154  BOOTS   AND   SADDLES. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

INDIAN    DEPEEDATIONS. 

Long  after  the  flowers  were  blooming  in  the  States, 
the  tardj  spring  began  to  appear  in  the  far  North. 
The  snow  slowly  melted,  and  the  ice  commenced  to 
thaw  on  the  river.  For  a  moment  it  would  be  a  pleas- 
ure to  imagine  the  privilege  of  again  walking  out  on  the 
sod  without  peril  of  freezing.  The  next  instant  the 
dread  of  the  coming  campaign,  wliicli  summer  is  almost 
certain  to  bring  to  a  cavalry  command,  filled  every 
thought,  and  made  me  wish  that  our  future  life  could 
be  spent  where  the  thermometer  not  only  went  down  to 
twenty  degrees  below  zero  but  remained  there. 

When  I  spied  the  first  tiny  blade  of  grass,  I  used  to 
find  myself  acting  like  a  child  and  grinding  the  inno- 
cent green  with  my  lieel,  back  from  where  it  sprang. 
The  first  bunch  of  flowers  that  the  soldiers  brought  me, 
long  before  the  ground  had  begun  to  take  on  even  a 
faint  emerald  tint,  were  a  variety  of  anemone,  a  bit  of 
blue  set  deep  down  in  a  cup  of  outer  petals  of  gray. 
These  were  so  thick  and  fuzzy  they  looked  like  a  sur- 
rounding of  gray  blanket.  And  well  the  flowers  needed 
such  protection  on  the  bleak  hills  where  they  grew. 
They  were  a  great  novelt}^,  and  I  wanted  to  go  and  seek 
them  myself,  but  my  husband  gave  me  the  strictest  in- 


INDIAN   DEPREDATIONS.  155 

junction  in  reply  not  to  step  outside  the  garrison  limits. 
We  had  received  warning  only  a  short  time  before  that 
the  Indians  had  crawled  out  of  their  winter  tepees,  and 
we  knew  ourselves  to  be  so  surrounded  that  it  became 
necessary  to  station  pickets  oti  the  high  ground  at  the 
rear  of  the  post. 

On  tlie  first  mild  day  my  husband  and  I  rode  over  to 
the  opposite  bank  of  the  rivei',  which  was  considered 
the  safe  side.  Thinking  ourselves  secure  from  danger 
there,  we  kept  on  further  than  we  realized.  A  magnifi- 
cent black-tailed  deer,  startled  by  our  voices  and  laugh- 
ter, and  yet  too  well  hidden  by  the  underbrush  to  see  us, 
resorted  to  a  device  habitual  with  deer  when  they  wisii 
to  see  over  an  extent  of  country.  lie  made  a  leap 
straight  into  the  air,  his  superb  head  turned  to  us 
searchingl3\  He  seemed  hardly  to  touch  the  earth  as 
he  bounded  away.  It  was  too  great  a  temptation  to  re- 
sist. We  did  not  follow  far  though,  for  we  had  neither 
dogs  nor  crun. 

Scarcely  any  time  elapsed  before  an  officer  and  a  de- 
tachment of  men  riding  over  the  ground  where  we  had 
started  the  deer,  but  obliged  to  pursue  their  way  further 
up  the  valley  as  they  were  on  duty,  came  to  a  horrible 
sight.  The  body  of  a  white  man  was  staked  out  on  the 
ground  and  disembowelled.  There  yet  remained  the 
embers  of  the  smouldering  fire  that  consumed  him.  If 
the  Indians  are  hurried  for  time,  and  cannot  stay  to  wit- 
ness the  prolonged  torture  of  their  victim,  it  is  their 
custom  to  pinion  the  captive  and  place  hot  coals  on  his 
vitals. 

The  hori-or  and  fright  this  gave  us  women  lasted  for 


156  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

a  time,  and  rendered  nnneeessaiy  the  continued  warn- 
ings of  onr  husbands  about  walking  outside  the  line  of 
the  pickets.  Even  with  all  tlie  admonitions,  we  began 
to  grow  desperate,  and  chafed  under  the  imprisonment 
that  confined  us  to  a  little  square  of  earth  montli  in 
and  montli  out.  One  day  tein})tation  came  suddenly 
upon  us  as  three  of  us  were  loitering  on  the  outskirts  of 
the  post.  The  soldier  who  drove  our  travelling-wagon, 
the  imperturbable  Burkman,  came  near.  We  cajoled  him 
into  letting  us  get  in  and  take  ever  so  short  a  turn  down 
the  valle}'.  Delighted  to  have  our  freedom  again,  we 
wheedled  the  good-natured  man  to  go  a  "little  and  a 
little  further."  At  last  even  he,  amiable  as  he  was,  re- 
fused to  be  coaxed  any  longer,  and  he  tui-ned  around.  Wo 
realized  then  how  far  away  we  were;  but  we  were  not  so 
far  that  we  could  not  plainly  discover  a  group  of  ofMcers 
on  the  veranda  at  our  quarters.  They  were  gesticulat- 
ing wildly,  and  beckoning  to  us  with  all  their  might. 
As  we  drove  nearer  we  could  almost  see  by  a  certain 
movement  of  the  lower  jaw  that  the  word  being  framed 
was  one  that  seems  to  bo  used  in  all  climates  for  extreme 
cases  of  aggravation.  They  were  all  provoked,  and 
caught  us  out  of  the  carriage  and  set  us  down,  after  a 
little  salute,  for  all  the  world  like  mothers  I  have  seen 
who  receive  their  children  from  narrow  escapes  with 
alternate  shakings  and  hugs.  It  seemed  hard  to  tell 
whether  anger  or  delight  predominated.  In  vain  we 
made  excuses,  when  order  was  restored  and  we  could 
all  speak  articulately.  We  were  then  solemnly  sworn, 
each  one  separately,  never  to  do  such  a  foolhardy  thing 
a^ain. 


INDIAN   DEPREDATIONS.  157 

The  Government  had  made  a  special  apj)ropriation 
for  rations  to  be  distributed,  through  the  officers,  to  the 
suffering  farmers    throughout  Minnesota   and   Dakota 
whose  crops  had  been  destroyed  bj-  grasslioppers.     As 
we  were  on  the  side  of  the  river  with  the  warHkc  Indi- 
ans, we  knew  of  but  one  ranch  near  us.     It  was  owned 
by  an  old  man  who  had  been  several  times  to  the  gen- 
eral for  assistance.     He  was  a  man  of  extraordinary 
courage,  for  he  had  located  his  claim  too  far  away  from 
any  one  to  be  able  to  obtain  assistance  if  he  needed  it. 
He  never  left  his  home  except  to  bring  into  market  the 
skins  that  he  had  trapped,  or  his  crops,  when  the  season 
was  profitable.     lie  was  so  quaint  and  peculiar,  and  so 
very  grateful  for  the  help  given  him,  that  my  husband 
wanted  nie  to  hear  him  express  his  thanks.     The  next 
time  he  came,  the  door  into  our  room  was  left  open,  in 
order  that  I  might  listen  to  what  otherwise  he  would 
have  been  too  shy  to  utter.     He  blessed  the  general  in 
the  most  touching  and  solemn  manner.     The  tears  were 
in  his  eyes,  and  answering  ones  rose  in  my  husband's, 
for  no  old  person  failed  to  appeal  to  his  sympathies  and 
recall  his  own  aged  parents.     Referring  to  some  domes- 
tic troubles  that  he  had  previously  confided  to  tlie  gen- 
eral, he  spoke  of  their  having  driven  him  beyond  the 
pale  of  civilization  when  he  was  old  and   feeble,  and 
compelled  him  to  take  his  "dinner  of  herbs"  in  a  de- 
serted  spot.      At  this  point  in  his  narrative  the  door 
was  significantly  shut,  and  I  was  thus  made  aware  that 
the  gratitude  part  was  all  that  I  was  to  be  permitted  to 
hear.      My  husband  considered  his  confidence  sacred. 
We  knew  that  the  old  man  lived  a  hermit's  life,  entirely 


158  BOOTS   AND   SADDLES. 

alone  the  year  through.  In  the  blizzards  he  could  not, 
leave  his  door-step  without  being  in  danger  of  freezing 
to  death.  Some  time  after  this  a  scout  brought  word  that 
during  the  spring  he  had  passed  the  ranch,  and  nothing 
was  to  be  seen  of  the  old  man.  The  general  suspected 
something  wrong,  and  took  a  company  himself  to  go  to 
the  place.  lie  found  that  the  Indians  had  been  there, 
liad  dismantled  and  robbed  the  house,  driven  o£E  the 
cattle  and  horses,  and  strewn  the  road  with  plunder. 
On  the  stable  floor  lay  the  body  of  the  harmless  old 
man,  his  silvery  hair  lying  in  a  pool  of  blood,  where  he 
had  been  beaten  to  death.  They  were  obliged  to  return 
and  leave  his  death  unavenged,  for  by  the  time  the  first 
news  reached  ns  the  murderers  were  far  avrav. 


A  DAY  OF  ANXIETY  AND  TERROR.  159 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

A   DAY   OF   ANXIETY   AND   TEEEOE. 

Ween  the  air  became  milder  it  was  a  delight,  after 
our  long  housing,  to  be  able  to  dawdle  on  the  piazza. 
The  valley  below  us  was  beginning  to  show  a  tinge  of 
verdure.  Several  hundred  mules  belonging  to  the  sup- 
jily-wagon  train  dotted  the  turf  and  nibbled  as  best  they 
could  the  sprouting  grass.  Half  a  dozen  citizens  lounged 
on  the  sod,  sleepily  guarding  the  herd,  for  these  mules 
were  hired  by  the  Government  from  a  contractor.  One 
morning  we  were  walking  back  and  forth,  looking,  as 
we  never  tired  of  doing,  down  the  long,  level  plain, 
when  we  were  startled  by  shouts.  We  ran  to  the  edge 
of  the  piazza,  and  saw  the  prisoners,  who  had  been  work- 
ing outside  the  post,  and  the  guard  who  had  them  in 
charge,  coming  in  at  a  double-quick.  A  hatless  and 
breathless  herder  dashed  up  to  the  officer  on  an  unsad- 
dled mule.  With  blanched  face  and  protruding  eyeballs 
he  called  out  that  the  Indians  were  running  off  the  herd. 

The  general  came  hastily  out,  just  in  time  to  sec  a 
cloud  of  dust  rising  through  a  gap  in  the  bluffs,  marking 
the  direction  taken  by  the  stampeded  mules.  Instantly 
he  shouted  with  his  clear  voice  to  the  bugler  to  sound 
the  call,  "Coots  and  saddles,"  and  keep  it  up  until  he  told 
liini  to  stop.    The  first  notes  of  the  trumpet  had  hardly 


100  BOOTS  AXD   SADDLES. 

sounded  before  the  porches  of  the  coinpanj  quarters 
and  the  parade  were  alive  witli  men.  Eveiy  one,  with- 
out stopping  to  question,  rushed  from  the  barracks  and 
officers'  quarters  to  the  staljles,  Tlie  men  threw  their 
saddles  on  their  horses  and  galloped  out  to  the  parade- 
ground.  Soldiers  who  were  solely  on  garrison  duty, 
and  to  whom  no  horse  was  assigned,  stole  whatever 
ones  they  could  find,  even  those  of  the  messengers  tied 
to  the  hitching- posts.  Others  vaulted  on  to  mules 
barebacked.  Some  were  in  jackets,  others  in  their  flan- 
nel shirt-sleeves.  Many  were  hatless,  and  occasionally 
a  head  was  tied  up  with  a  handkerchief.  It  was  any- 
thing but  a  military-looking  crowd,  but  every  one  was 
ready  for  action,  and  such  spirited-looking  creatures  it 
is  rarely  one's  lot  to  see.  Finding  the  reason  for  the 
hasty  summons  when  they  all  gathered  together,  they 
could  hardly  brook  even  a  few  moments'  delay. 

The  general  did  not  tarry  to  give  any  but  brief  di- 
rections, lie  detailed  an  officer  to  remain  in  charge 
of  the  garrison,  and  left  him  some  hurried  instructions. 
He  stopped  to  caution  me  again  not  to  go  outside  the 
post,  and  with  a  hasty  good-bye  flung  himself  into  the 
saddle  and  was  off.  The  command  spurred  their  horses 
towards  the  opening  in  the  bluff,  not  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  away,  through  which  the  last  mules  had  passed. 
In  twenty  minutes  from  the  first  alarm  the  garrison 
was  emptied,  and  we  women  stood  watching  the  cloud 
of  dust  that  the  hoofs  of  tlie  regimental  horses  had 
stirred  as  they  hurled  themselves  through  the  cleft  in 
the  hills. 

We  had  hardlv  collected  our  senses  before  we  found 


A   DAY   OF  ANXIETY  AND   TERROR.  IGl 

that  we  ■sverc  almost  deserted.  As  a  rule,  tliere  are 
enough  soldiers  on  garrison  duty,  who  do  not  go  on 
scouts,  to  protect  the  post,  but  in  the  mad  haste  of 
the  morning,  and  impelled  by  indignant  fury  at  having 
the  herd  swept  away  from  under  their  very  noses  as 
it  were,  all  this  home-guard  had  precipitately  left  with- 
out permission.  Fortunately  for  them,  and  liis  own 
peace  of  mind  regarding  our  safety,  the  general  did 
not  know  of  this  until  he  returned.  Besides,  the  offi- 
cers never  dreamed  the  pursuit  would  last  for  more 
tlian  a  niile  or  so,  as  they  had  been  so  quick  in  pre- 
paring to  follow. 

After  our  gasping  and  wild  heart-beating  had  sub- 
sided a  little,  we  realized  that,  in  addition  to  our  anxiety 
for  those  who  had  just  left  lis,  we  w^ere  in  peril  our- 
selves. The  women,  with  one  instinct,  gathered  togeth- 
er. Though  Indians  rarely  attack  a  post  directly,  the 
pickets  that  were  stationed  on  tlie  low  hills  at  the  rear 
of  the  garrison  had  been  fired  upon  previously.  "We  also 
feared  that  the  buildings  would  be  set  on  fire  by  the 
wily,  creeping  savages.  It  was  even  thought  that  the 
running  off  of  the  herd  was  but  a  ruse  to  get  the  gar- 
rison out,  in  order  to  attack  the  post.  Of  course  v\'e 
knew  that  only  a  portion  of  the  Indians  had  produced 
the  stampede,  and  we  feared  that  the  remainder  were 
waiting  to  continue  the  depredations,  and  were  aware 
of  our  depleted  numbers. 

Huddled  together  in  an  inner  room,  we  first  ti'ied  to 
devise  schemes  for  secreting  ourselves.  The  hastily- 
built  quarters  had  then  no  cellars.  How  we  regretted 
that  a  cave  had  not  been  prepared  in  the  liill  back  of 


163  BOOTS   AXD   SADDLES. 

US  for  hiding  the  women  in  emergencies.  Our  means 
of  escape  by  tlie  river  were  uncertain,  as  the  ferry-boat 
was  in  a  shocking  condition  ;  besides,  the  citizens  in 
charge  would  very  naturally  detain  the  boat  upon  some 
pretext  on  the  safe  side  of  the  river.  Finall}',  nervous 
and  trembling  over  these  conferences,  we  returned  to 
the  piazza,  and  tried  to  think  that  it  was  time  for  the 
return  of  the  regiment.  Our  house  being  the  last  in 
the  line,  and  commanding  an  extended  view  of  the 
valley,  wc  kept  our  lookout  there.  Each  of  us  took 
turns  in  mounting  the  porch  railing,  and,  held  there  in 
place  by  the  others,  fixed  the  field-glass  on  the  little 
spot  of  earth  through  which  the  command  had  van- 
ished. "With  a  plaintive  little  laugh,  one  of  our  num- 
ber called  out  the  inquiry  that  has  symbolized  all  be- 
leaguered women  from  time  immemorial,  "Sister  Anne, 
do  you  see  any  one  coming?" 

All  of  us  scanned  the  horizon  unflaggingly.  We 
knew  the  Indian  mode  of  taking  observation.  They 
pile  a  few  stones  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  after  dark; 
before  dawn  they  creep  up  stealthily  from  the  farther 
side,  and  hiding  behind  the  slight  protection,  watch  all 
day  long  with  unwearying  patience.  These  little  picket 
posts  of  theirs  were  scattered  all  along  the  bluffs.  We 
scarcely  allowed  ourselves  to  take  our  e^yes  off  them. 
Once  in  a  while  one  of  our  group  on  watch  called  out 
that  something  was  moving  behind  the  rocks.  Chairs 
were  brought  out  and  placed  beside  her,  in  order  that 
a  second  pair  of  ej'es  might  confirm  the  statement. 
This  threw  our  little  shivering  group  into  new  panics. 

There  was  a  window  in   the  servants'   room  at  the 


A   DAY   OF  ANXIETY  AND   TERROR.  163 

rear  of  the  house,  to  and  from  which  we  ascended  and 
descended  all  day  long.  I  do  not  think  the  actual  fear 
of  death  was  tliought  of  so  much  as  the  all-absorhing 
terror  of  capture.  Our  regiment  had  rescued  some 
white  women  from  captivity  in  Kansas,  and  we  never 
forgot  their  stories.  One  of  our  number  became  so 
convinced  that  their  fate  awaited  us,  that  she  called  a 
resolute  woman  one  side  to  implore  her  to  promise  that, 
when  the  Indians  came  into  the  post,  she  would  put  a 
bullet  through  her  heart,  before  she  carried  out  her  de- 
termination to  shoot  herself.  We  sincerely  discussed 
whether,  in  extreme  danger,  we  could  be  counted  upon 
to  load  and  fire  a  carbine. 

It  would  be  expected  that  army  women  would  know 
a  great  deal  about  fire-arms';  I  knew  but  few  who  did. 
I  never  even  went  into  the  corner  of  my  husband's 
library,  where  lie  kept  his  stand  of  unloaded  arms,  if 
I  could  help  it.  I  am  compelled  to  confess  that  the 
holster  of  a  pistol  gave  me  a  shiver.  One  of  our  ladies, 
however,  had  a  little  of  the  MoUie  Pitcher  spirit.  She 
had  shot  at  a  mark,  and  she  promised  to  teach  us  to  put 
in  the  cartridges  and  discharge  the  piece.  We  were 
filled  with  envy  because  she  produced  a  tiny  Remington 
pistol  that  heretofore  she  had  carried  in  her  pocket  when 
travelling  in  the  States.  It  was  not  much  larger  than 
a  lead-pencil,  and  we  could  not  help  doubting  its  power 
to  damage.  She  did  not  insist  that  it  would  kill,  but 
even  at  such  a  time  we  had  to  laugh  at  the  vehement 
manner  in  which  she  declared  that  she  could  disable  the 
leg  of  an  enemy.  She  seemed  to  think  that  sufficient 
pluck  M'ould  be  left  to  finish   him  afterwards.     The 


164  BOOTS   AND   SADDLES. 

officer  who  had  remained  in  command  was  obliged  to 
see  that  the  few  troopers  left  were  armed,  and  after- 
wards lie  visited  the  pickets.  Then  he  came  to  us  and 
tried  to  quiet  our  fears,  and  from  that  time  his  life  be- 
came a  burden. 

We  questioned  twenty  times  his  idea  as  to  where 
lie  thought  the  command  had  gone,  when  it  would 
come  back,  and  such  other  aimless  queries  as  only  the 
ingenuity  of  frightened  women  can  devise.  lie  was 
driven  almost  desperate.  In  assuring  us  that  he  hoped 
there  was  no  immediate  danger,  he  asked  us  to  remem- 
ber that  the  infantry  post  was  near  enough  to  give  as- 
sistance if  we  needed  it,  Alas,  that  post  seemed  miles 
away,  and  we  believed  the  gulleys  that  intervened  be- 
tween the  two  garrisons  would  be  filled  with  Indians. 
After  a  prolonged  season  of  this  experience,  the  officer 
tried  to  escape  and  go  to  his  quarters.  AVo  were  really 
so  anxious  and  alarmed  tliat  he  had  not  the  heart  to 
resist  our  appeals  to  him  to  remain  near. 

And  so  tliat  long  day  dragged  away.  About  five 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  a  faint  haze  arose  on  the  ho- 
rizon. We  could  hardly  restrain  our  uneasy  feet.  Wc 
wanted  to  run  up  over  the  bluff  to  discover  what  it 
meant.  AVe  regretted  that  we  had  given  our  word  of 
honor  that  we  would  not  leave  the  limits  of  the  post. 
Soon  after  the  mules  appeared,  travelling  wearily  back 
through  the  same  opening  in  the  bhiffs  through  which 
so  many  hours  before  they  had  rushed  headlong.  We 
were  bitterly  disappointed  to  find  only  a  few  soldiers 
driving  them,  and  they  gave  but  little  news.  AVhen 
the  regiment  overtook  the  stock  these  men  had  been 


A   DAY   OF  ANXIETY  AND   TERROR.  165 

detailed  to  return  with  the  recaptured  animals  to  the 
garrison  ;  the  command  had  pushed  on  in  pursuit  of 
the  Indians. 

The  night  set  in,  and  still  we  were  in  suspense.  We 
made  a  poor  attempt  to  eat  dinner;  we  knew  that  none 
of  the  regiment  had  taken  rations  with  them,  and  sev- 
eral of  the  officers  had  not  even  breakfasted.  Thei-e 
was  nothing  for  us  to  do  but  to  remain  together  for  the 
night. 

From  this  miserable  frame  of  mind  we  were  thrown 
into  a  new  excitement,  but  fortunately  not  of  fear:  wc 
heard  the  sound  of  the  band  ringing  out  on  the  still 
evening  air.  Every  woman  was  instantly  on  the  piazza. 
From  an  entirely  different  direction  from  that  in  which 
they  had  left,  the  regiment  appeared,  marching  to  the 
familiar  notes  of  "  Garryowen." 

Such  a  welcome  as  met  them !  The  relief  from  the 
anxiety  of  that  unending  day  was  inexpressible.  When 
the  regiment  was  nearing  the  post,  the  general  had  sent 
in  an  orderly  to  bring  the  band  out  to  meet  them.  He 
cautioned  him  to  secrecy,  because  he  wished  us  to  have 
a  joyous  release  from  the  suspense  he  knew  we  had  en- 
dured. 

Tiie  regiment  had  ridden  twenty  miles  out,  as  hard 
as  the  speed  of  the  horses  would  allow.  The  general, 
and  one  other  officer  mounted  like  himself  on  a  Ken- 
tucky thorough-bred,  found  themselves  far  in  advance, 
and  almost  up  to  some  of  the  Indians.  They  seeing 
themselves  so  closely  pressed,  resorted  to  the  cunning 
of  their  race  to  escape.  They  threw  themselves  from 
their  ponies,  and  plunged  into  the  underbrush  of  a  deep 


166  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

I'iivine  w'licre  no  horse  could  follow.  The  ])onies  were 
captured,  but  it  was  useless  to  try  any  further  pursuit. 
All  the  horses  were  fagi^anl,  and  the  otBcers  and  men 
sujQFering  from  the  want  of  food  and  water. 

When  the  herders  were  questioned  next  day,  it  was 
found  that  the  Indians  had  started  the  stampede  by 
riding  suddenly  up  from  the  river  where  thej^  had  been 
concealed.  Uttering  the  wildest  yells,  they  eacli  swung 
a  buffalo  robe  about  the  ears  of  the  easily  excited  mules. 

An  astonishing  collection  of  maimed  and  halt  ap- 
peared the  next  morning;  neither  men  nor  officers  had 
been  in  the  saddle  during  the  winter.  This  sudden  ride 
of  so  many  miles,  without  preparation,  had  so  bruised 
and  stiffened  their  joints  and  flesh  that  they  could 
scarcely  move  naturally.  When  they  sat  down  it  was 
with  the  groans  of  old  men.  When  they  rose  they 
declared  they  would  stand  perpetually  until  they  were 
again  limber  and  their  injuries  healed. 

As  to  the  officer  who  had  been  left  behind,  he  in- 
sisted that  their  fate  was  infinitely  preferable  to  liis. 
We  heard  that  he  said  to  the  others  in  confidence,  that 
should  he  ever  be  detailed  to  command  a  garrison  where 
agitated  women  were  left,  he  would  protest  and  beg  for 
active  duty,  no  matter  if  his  life  itself  were  in  jeopardy. 


IMPROVEMENTS  AT   TUE  POST,  AND   GARDENING.       107 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

IMPEOYEMENTS    AT   THE   TOST,  AND    GAKDENING. 

The  general  began,  as  soon  as  tlie  snow  was  off  tlic 
ground,  to  improve  the  post.  Young  cotton-wood  trees — 
the  only  variety  that  would  grow  in  that  soil — were  trans- 
planted from  the  river  bank.  They  are  so  full  of  sap 
that  I  liave  seen  the  leaves  come  out  on  the  logs  that 
had  been  cut  some  time  and  were  in  use  as  the  frame- 
work of  our  camp-huts.  This  vitality,  even  when  the 
roots  were  dying,  deceived  ns  into  building  hopes  that 
all  the  trees  we  planted  would  live.  "We  soon  found  by 
experience,  however,  that  it  was  not  safe  to  regard  a 
few  new  leaves  as  a  sure  angury  of  the  long  life  of  these 
trees.  It  woukl  have  been  dilBcult  to  estimate  how 
many  barrels  of  water  were  poured  around  their  roots 
during  the  summer.  A  few  of  them  survived,  even 
during  the  dry  season,  and  we  watched  tliem  with  great 
interest. 

One  day  my  iiusband  called  me  to  the  door,  with  a 
warning  finger  to  come  softly,  lie  whispered  to  me  to 
observe  a  bird  perched  on  a  branch,  and  trying  to  get 
under  the  shade  of  two  or  three  tiny  leaflets  that  were 
struggling  to  live.  Such  a  harbinger  of  hope  made  us 
full  of  bright  anticipations  of  the  day  when  our  trees 
would  cast  a  bruad  shadow. 


ICS  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

No  one  wlio  lias  not  experienced  it  can  dream  what 
it  is  to  live  so  many  years  in  a  glare  as  we  did.  Many 
of  tlie  officers  were  almost  blind  from  time  to  time, 
owing  to  tlie  reflection  of  tlie  sand  over  which  they 
marched,  and  with  which  they  were  surrounded  in 
camp  and  garrison.  I  once  asked  a  friend  who  had 
crossed  the  plains  several  times,  what  she  would  prefer 
above  everything  else  on  the  march.  When  she  replied, 
"a  tree,"  I  agreed  with  her  that  nothing  else  could 
liave  been  such  a  blessing. 

My  husband  felt  that  any  amount  of  care  spent  on 
the  poor  little  saplings  would  be  labor  well  bestowed. 
If  we  were  ordered  away,  he  knew  that  otiiers  coming 
after  us,  stationed  in  that  dreary  waste,  w'ould  derive 
the  benefit.  Several  years  afterwards  I  was  assured 
that  some  one  was  reaping  his  sowing,  for  a  large  leaf 
was  enclosed,  to  me  in  an  envelope,  and  a  word  added 
to  explain  that  it  w^as  from  the  tree  in  front  of  our 
quarters. 

On  the  opposite  side  of  the  Missouri  River,  except 
for  the  scattered  underbrush  along  the  banks,  there  was 
a  stretch  of  country  for  eighty  miles  eastward  without 
a  tree,  and  with  hardly  a  bush.  Tlie  only  one  I  knew 
of,  on  our  side  of  the  river,  I  could  not  help  calling  a 
genuine  ancestral  tree.  It  was  a  burying-place  for  the 
Indians.  We  counted  seventeen  of  them  that  were 
lashed  to  boards  and  laid  across  the  main  branches, 
and  there  securely  fastened,  so  that  a  tornado  could 
not  dislodge  them.  JMucli  as  we  longed  to  enjoy  what 
had  become  by  its  rarity  a  novelty,  the  sitting  under 
the  shade  of  green  trees,  and  hearing  the  sound  of  the 


IMPROVEMENTS   AT   THE   POST,  AND   GARDENING.      169 

wind  tlirongli  tlie  foliage,  not  one  of  us  could  be  in- 
duced to  tarry  under  those  sepulchral  boughs. 

The  struggles  to  make  the  grass  grow  on  the  sandy 
parade-ground  were  unceasing.  Not  only  would  it  have 
been  an  improvement  to  the  post,  in  its  general  appear- 
ance, but  it  would  certainly  have  added  materially  to 
our  comfort.  How  we  longed  to  escape  from  the  clouds 
of  dust  that  the  unceasing  wind  took  up  in  straight 
whirling  eddies  and  then  wafted  in  gr^at  sheets  of 
murky  yellow  into  our  doors  and  windows,  making  our 
eyes  smart  and  throats  raw  and  parched,  as  alkali  sand 
can  do  so  effectually. 

The  general  sent  East  for  grass-seed,  which,  with  oats, 
were  sown  over  and  over  again.  Our  referee  on  all 
agricultural  questions  assured  us  that  the  oats  sprouted 
so  soon,  the  oncoming  blades  of  grass  would  be  pro- 
tected, lie  was  so  enthusiastically  in  earnest  that  he 
seemed  to  be  studying  the  soil  at  all  houi's  of  the  daj^ 
to  detect  a  verdant  tinge. 

One  moonlio-jit  nio-ht  we  were  attracted  to  the  iral- 
Icry  by  seeing  him  stalking  slowly  back  and  forth,  wav- 
ing his  arms  in  apparent  gesticulation  of  speech  as  he 
tiaversed  the  length  of  the  parade-ground.  Some  said, 
in  explanation,  that  the  moon  was  at  that  stage  when 
reason  totters  on  her  throne  most  readily;  another  de- 
clared that,  having  become  tired  of  the  career  of  a 
Mars,  he  had  resumed  his  old  rule  as  a  statesman,  and 
was  practising,  addressing  his  imaginary  constituents. 
All  were  wrong.  The  faithful  promoter  of  the  general 
good  was  sowing  oats  again,  doubtless  hoping  that  the 
witchery  of  the  moonlight  would  be  a  potent  spell  to 

S 


170  BOOTS   AND   SADDLES. 

induce  their  growth.  Even  after  such  indefatigable 
efforts,  the  soil  refused  to  encourage  the  sprouting  of 
more  than  occasional  patches  of  pallid  green. 

A  portion  of  ground  near  the  river  was  assigned  the 
companies  for  their  gardens,  and  there  were  enough 
soldiers  looking  forward  to  the  result  who  counted  it 
no  hardship  to  plant,  dig,  and  weed.  All  tliis  tilling 
of  the  soil  inspired  our  energies,  and  a  corner  of  our 
own  yard  was.  prepared.  A  high  fence  was  put  up  so 
that  the  stag-hounds,  which  make  such  incredible  leaps, 
could  not  scale  the  enclosure.  The  household  even 
gathered  about  the  general  to  see  him  drop  the  seed,  so 
full  of  interest  were  we  all.  Long  before  it  was  time 
to  look  for  sprouting,  we  made  daily  pilgrimages  to  the 
corner  and  peered  through  the  fence. 

The  general.  Colonel  Tom,  and  I  watered,  weeded, 
and  watched  the  little  bit  of  earth  ;  the  cook  and 
house -maid  took  our  places  and  resumed  our  work 
when  we  ceased.  JS^ever  was  a  patch  of  tei^ra  firma 
so  guarded  and  cared  for !  At  last  Mary  became  im- 
patient, and  even  turned  the  tiny  sprouts  upside  down, 
putting  the  plants  back  after  examining  the  roots.  Her 
watch  was  more  vigilant  than  ours,  and  she  actually 
surprised  the  general  one  morning  by  putting  beside 
him  a  glass  of  radishes.  It  was  really  a  sensation  in 
our  lives  to  have  raised  them  ourselves,  and  we  could 
not  help  recalling  the  pitiful  statement  of  a  dear  friend, 
who  also  belonged  to  a  mounted  regiment,  that  she 
had  planted  gardens  for  twelve  successive  springs,  but 
liad  never  been  stationed  long  enough  in  one  place  to 
reap  the  benefit  of  a  single  attempt.      Of  course,  be- 


IMmOVEMEXTS  AT   THE   TOST,  AND   GARDENING.      171 

ing  natnrallj  so  sanguine  as  a  family,  we  began  in  im- 
agination almost  to  taste  the  oncoming  beets,  turnips, 
etc.  AVe  reckoned  too  hastily,  however,  for  a  perfect 
array  of  grasshoppers  appeared  one  day.  They  came  in 
swarms,  and  when  we  looked  up  at  the  sun  we  seemed 
to  be  gazing  through  clouded  air.  Absorbed  in  this 
curious  sight  w^e  forgot  our  precious  garden ;  but  Colo- 
nel Tom  remembered,  and  insisted  upon  trying  an  ex- 
perin:ient  recommended  in  print  by  a  Minnesota  farmer. 
Seizing  some  tins  from  the  kitchen,  and  followed  by 
the  servants  and  their  mistress,  all  armed  in  the  same 
manner,  we  adopted  the  advice  of  the  newspaper  par- 
agraph, and  beat  the  metal  with  perfectly  deafening 
noise  around  the  small  enclosure.  Had  grasshoppers 
been  sensitive  to  sound,  it  would  have  ended  in  our 
triumph.  As  it  was,  they  went  on  peacefully  and  stub- 
bornly, eating  every  twig  in  our  sight.  Having  fin- 
ished everything,  they  soared  away,  carrying  on  their 
departing  wings  our  dreams  of  radishes  and  young 
beets!  The  company  gardens  were  demolished  in  the 
same  manner,  and  every  one  returned  for  another  year 
to  the  tiresome  diet  of  canned  vegetables, 

I  remember  the  look  of  amazement  that  came  into 
the  face  of  a  luxurious  citizen  when  I  told  him  thaJ 
wo  gave  a  dinner  at  once  if  we  had  the  good-fortune 
to  get  anything  rare.  "  And,  pray,  what  did  you  call 
a  rarity  V  he  responded.  I  was  obliged  to  own  that 
over  a  plebeian  cabbage  we  have  had  a  real  feast. 
Once  in  a  great  while  one  was  reluctantly  sold  us  in 
Bismarck  for  a  dollar  and  a  half. 

We  used  condensed  milk,  and  as  for  eggs,  they  were 


173  BOOTS   AND   SADDLES. 

the  c:reatest  of  luxuries.  In  the  autumn  we  brouirht 
from  St.  Paul  several  cases,  but  five  hundred  miles  of 
jostling  made  great  havoc  M'ith  them. 

The  receipt-books  were  exasperating.  They  invari- 
ably called  for  cream  and  fresh  eggs,  and  made  the 
cook  furious.  It  seemed  to  me  that  some  officer's  ser- 
vant on  the  frontier  must  have  given  the  receipt  for 
waffles,  for  it  bears  the  indefinite  tone  of  the  darky: 
"Eggs  just  as  you  haz  'em,  honey  ;  a  sprinklin'  of  flour 
as  you  can  hold  in  your  hand;  milk!  well,  'cordin'  to 
what  you  has." 

The  crystallized  eggs,  put  up  in  cans  and  being  air- 
tight, kept  a  long  time,  and  were  of  more  use  to  us 
than  any  invention  of  the  day.  In  drying  the  egg, 
the  yolks  and  whites  were  mixed  together,  and  nothing 
could  be  made  of  this  preparation  when  the  two  parts 
were  required  to  be  used  separately.  It  made  very  good 
batter -cakes,  however,  and  at  first  it  seemed  that  we 
could  never  get  enough. 

In  the  spring,  when  it  was  no  longer  safe  to  hunt, 
we  had  to  return  to  beef,  as  we  had  no  other  kind  of 
meat.  My  husband  never  seemed  to  tire  of  it,  how- 
ever, and  suggested  to  one  of  our  friends  who  had  the 
hackneyed  motto  in  his  dining-room,  that  she  change 
it  to  "  Give  us  this  day  our  daily  beef." 

Once  only,  in  all  those  years  of  frontier  life,  I  had 
strawberries.  They  were  brought  to  me  as  a  present 
from  St.  Paul.  The  day  they  came  there  were,  as  usu- 
al, a  number  of  our  friends  on  the  piazza.  I  carefully 
counted  noses  first,  and  hastily  went  in  before  any  one 
else  should  come,  to  divide  the  small  supply  into  in- 


IjIPROVEMEXTS  at   the   post,  AXD   GARDEXIXG.      173 

fmitesiinal  portions.  I  sent  the  tray  out  by  the  maid, 
and  was  delayed  a  moment  before  following  her.  My 
husband,  stepped  inside,  his  face  as  pleased  as  a  child 
over  the  surprise,  but  at  the  same  time  his  eyes  hastily 
scanning  the  buttery  shelves  for  more  berries.  When 
1  found  that  in  that  brief  delay  another  ofBcer  had 
come  upon  the  porch,  and  that  the  general  had  given 
him  his  dish,  I  was  greatly  disappointed.  In  vain  my 
husband  assured  me,  in  response  to  my  unanswerable 
appeal,  asking  him  why  he  had  not  kept  them  himself, 
that  it  was  hardly  his  idea  of  hospitality.  I  was  only 
conscious  of  the  fact  that  liaving  been  denied  them  all 
these  years,  he  had,  after  all,  lost  his  only  strawberry 
feast. 

This  doubtless  seems  like  a  very  trifling  circumstance 
to  chronicle,  and  much  less  to  have  grieved  over,  but 
there  are  those  who,  having  ventured  "  eight  miles  from 
a  lemon,"  have  gained  some  faint  idea  what  temporary 
deprivations  are. 

When  such  a  life  goes  on  year  after  year,  and  one 
forgets  even  the  taste  of  fruit  and  fresh  vegetables, 
it  becomes  an  event  when  they  do  appear. 


174  BOOTS   AND   SADDLES. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

GENERAL    CUSTEll's    LIBEAKY. 

TnE  order  came  early  in  the  season  to  rebuild  our 
burned  quarters,  and  the  suggestion  was  made  that  the 
genei-al  should  plan  the  interior.  lie  was  wholly  taken 
up  with  the  arrangement  of  the  rooms,  in  order  that  they 
might  be  suitable  for  the  entertainment  of  the  gai-rison. 
Though  he  did  not  enter  into  all  the  post  gayety,  he  re- 
alized that  ours  would  be  the  only  house  ]avi^e  enough 
for  the  accommodation  of  all  the  garrison,  and  that  it 
should  belong  to  every  one.  It  was  a  pleasure  to  watch 
the  progress  of  the  building,  and  when  the  quartermaster 
gave  the  order  for  a  bay-window,  to  please  me,  I  was 
really  grateful.  The  window  not  only  broke  the  long 
line  of  the  parlor  wall,  but  varied  the  severe  outlines  of 
the  usual  type  of  army  quarters. 

On  one  side  of  the  hall  was  the  general's  library,  our 
room  and  dressing-room.  The  parlor  was  opposite,  and 
was  thirty-two  feet  in  length.  It  opened  with  sliding- 
doors  into  the  dining-room,  and  still  beyond  M^as  the 
kitchen.  Up-stairs  there  was  a  long  room  for  the  billiard- 
table,  and  we  had  sleeping-rooms  and  servant-rooms  be- 
sides. To  our  delight,  we  could  find  a  place  for  every- 
body. Space  was  about  all  we  had,  however;  there- 
was  not  a  modern  improvement.     The  walls  were  un- 


GENERAL   CUSTER'S   LIBRARY.  175 

papered,  and  not  even  tinted  ;  tlie  windows  went  up 
with  a  struggle,  and  were  held  open  by  wooden  props. 
Each  room  had  an  old-fasliioned  box-stove,  such  as  our 
grandfathers  gathered  round  in  country  school-houses. 
We  had  no  well  or  cistern,  and  not  even  a  drain,  while 
the  sun  poured  in,  unchecked  by  a  blind  of  even  primi- 
tive shape.  It  was  a  palace,  however,  compared  with 
what  we  had  been  accustomed  to  in  other  stations,  and 
I  know  we  wxrc  too  contented  to  give  much  thought 
to  what  the  house  lacked. 

My  husband  was  enchanted  to  have  a  room  entirely 
for  his  own  use.  Our  quarters  had  heretofore  been  too 
small  for  him  to  have  any  privacy  in  his  work.  He  w\as 
like  a  rook,  in  the  sly  manner  in  which  he  made  raids  on 
the  furniture  scattered  through  the  rooms,  and  carried  off 
the  best  of  everything  to  enrich  his  corner  of  the  house. 
He  filled  it  with  the  trophies  of  the  chase.  Over  the 
mantel  a  buffalo's  head  plunged,  seemingly,  out  of  the 
wall.  (Buffaloes  were  rare  in  Dakota,  but  this  was  one 
the  general  had  killed  from  the  only  herd  he  had  seen 
on  the  campaign.)  The  head  of  the  first  grisly  that  he 
had  shot,  with  its  open  jaws  and  great  fang-like  teeth, 
looked  fiercely  down  on  the  pretty,  meek- faced  jack- 
rabbits  on  the  mantel.  (My  husband  greatly  valued  the 
bear's  head,  and  in  writing  to  me  of  his  hunting  had  said 
of  it:  "I  have  reached  the  height  of  a  hunter's  fame — 
I  liave  killed  a  grisly.")  Several  antch)pe  heads  were 
also  on  the  walls.  One  had  a  mark  in  the  throat  where 
the  general  had  shot  him  at  a  distance  of  six  hundred 
yards.  The  head  of  a  beautiful  black -iailcd  deer  was 
another  souvenir  of  a  hunt  the  <i:enural  had  made  with 


178  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

Bloody  Knife,  the  favorite  Indian  scont.  Wlien  they 
sighted  the  deer  they  agreed  to  fire  together,  the  Indian 
selecting  the  head,  the  general  taking  the  heart.  They 
tired  simnltancously,  and  the  deer  fell,  the  bullets  en- 
tering liead  and  heart.  The  scout  could  not  repress  a 
grunt  of  approval,  as  the  Indian  considers  the  white 
man  greatly  his  inferior  as  a  hunter  or  a  marksman. 
A  sand-hill  crane,  which  is  very  liard  to  bring  down, 
stood  on  a  pedestal  by  itself.  A  mountain  eagle,  a  yel- 
low fox,  and  a  tiny  fox  with  a  brush — called  out  there 
a  swift— were  disposed  of  in  dillerent  corners.  Over 
his  desk,  claiming  a  perch  by  itself  on  a  pair  of  deer- 
antlers,  was  a  great  white  owl.  On  the  floor  before 
the  tireplace,  where  he  carried  his  love  for  building  tires 
so  far  as  to  put  on  the  logs  himself,  was  spread  the 
immense  skin  of  a  grisly  bear.  On  a  wide  lounge  at 
one  side  of  the  room  my  husband  used  to  throw  himself 
down  on  the  cover  of  a  Mexican  blanket,  often  with  a 
<l()g  for  his  pillow.  The  camp-chairs  had  the  skins  of 
beavers  and  American  lions  thrown  over  them.  A  stand 
for  arms  in  one  corner  held  a  collection  of  pistols,  hunt- 
ing-knives, Winchester  and  Springtield  rifles,  shot-guns 
and  carbines,  and  even  an  old  flint-lock  musket  as  a 
variety.  From  antlers  above  hung  sabres,  spurs,  riding- 
whips,  gloves  and  caps,  tield-glasses,  the  map-case,  and  the 
great  compass  used  on  marches.  One  of  the  sabres  was 
remarkably  large,  and  when  it  was  given  to  the  general 
during  the  war  it  was  accompanied  by  the  remark  that 
there  was  doubtless  no  other  arm  in  the  service  that 
could  wield  it.  (My  husband  was  next  to  the  strongest 
man  while  at  AVest  Point,  and  his  life  after  that  had 


GEx\ERAL   CUSTERS   LIBRARY.  177 

only  increased  his  power.)  The  sabre  was  a  Damascus 
blade,  and  made  of  such  finely- tempered  steel  that  it 
could  be  bent  nearly  double.  It  had  been  captured  dur- 
ing the  war,  and  looked  as  if  it  might  have  been  handed 
down  from  some  Spanish  ancestor.  On  the  blade  was 
engraved  a  motto  in  that  higli-flown  language,  which 

ran  : 

"  Do  not  draw  me  without  cause  ; 
Do  not  sheathe  me  without  honor." 

Large  photographs  of  the  men  my  husband  loved  kept 
him  company  on  tiie  walls ;  they  were  of  General 
McCIellan,  General  Sheridan,  and  Mr.  Lawrence  Bar- 
rett. Over  his  desk  was  a  picture  of  his  wife  in  bridal 
dress.  Comparatively  modern  art  was  represented  by 
two  of  the  liogers  statuettes  that  we"  had  carried  about 
with  us  for  years.  Transportation  for  neeessai-y  house- 
hold articles  was  often  so  limited  it  was  sometimes 
a  question  whether  anything  that  was  not  absolutely 
needed  for  the  preservation  of  life  should  be  taken  witli 
us;  but  our  attachment  for  those  little  figures,  and  the 
associations  connected  with  them,  made  us  study  out  a 
way  always  to  carry  them.  At  the  end  of  each  journey  wc 
unboxed  them  ourselves,  and  sifted  the  sawdust  through 
our  fingers  carefully,  for  the  figures  were  invariably 
dismembered.  My  husband's  first  occupation  was  to 
hang  the  few  pictures  and  mend  the  statuettes.  He 
glued  on  the  broken  portions  and  moulded  putty  in  the 
crevices  where  the  biscuit  had  crumbled.  Sometimes 
he  had  to  replace  a  bit  that  was  lost,  and,  as  he  was  very 
fond  of  nxodelling,  I  rather  imagined  that  he  was  glad  of 
an  opportunity  to  practise  on  our  broken  statuettes. 

8" 


178  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

My  linsband,  like  many  otlicr  men  who  achieve  suc- 
cess in  the  graver  walks  of  life,  could  go  on  and  accom- 
plislihis  ends  without  being  dependent  on  the  immediate 
voice  of  approval.  In  all  the  smaller,  more  trifling  acts 
<tf  daily  life  he  asked  for  a  prompt  acknowledgment. 
It  amused  me  greatly,  it  was  so  like  a  woman,  who  can 
scarcely  exist  without  encouragement.  When  he  had 
reset  an  arui  or  modelled  a  cap  I  could  quite  honestly 
praise  his  work. 

On  one  occasion  we  found  the  head  of  a  figure  en- 
tirely severed  from  the  trunk.  Nothing  daunted,  he 
fell  to  patching  it  up  again.  I  had  not  the  conscience 
to  promise  him  the  future  of  a  Tliorwaldsen  this  time. 
The  distorted  throat,  made  of  unwieldy  putty,  gave 
the  formerly  erect,  soldierly  neck  a  decided  appear- 
ance of  goitre.  My  laughter  discouraged  the  impromp- 
tu artist,  who  for  one  moment  felt  that  a  "restora- 
tion" is  not  quite  equal  to  the  original.  He  declared 
that  he  would  put  a  coat  of  gray  paint  over  all,  so  that 
in  a  dim  corner,  they  might  pass  for  new.  I  insisted 
that  it  should  be  a  very  dark  corner!  Both  of  the  statu- 
ettes represented  scenes  from  the  war.  One  was  called 
"  Wounded  to  the  Rear,"  the  other,  "  Letter  Day."  The 
latter  was  the  figure  of  a  soldier  sitting  in  a  cramped, 
bent  position,  holding  an  inkstand  in  one  hand  and 
scratching  his  liead  for  thoughts,  with  the  pen.  The  in- 
ane poise  of  his  chin  as  he  looked  up  into  the  uninspir- 
ing air,  and  the  hopeless  expression  of  his  eyes  as  he 
searched  for  ideas,  showed  how  unusual  to  him  were  all 
efforts  at  composition. 

We  had  a  witty  friend  who  had  served  with  my  has- 


GENERAL   CUSTER'S   LIBRARY.  179 

band  during  the  war.  Many  an  evening  in  front  of  our 
open  fire  they  fought  over  their  oKl  battles  together. 
He  used  to  loolc  at  the  statuette  quizzically,  as  he  seated 
himself  near  the  hearth,  and  once  told  us  that  he  never 
saw  it  without  being  reminded  of  his  own  struggles 
during  the  war  to  write  to  his  wife.  She  was  Southern 
in  sympathies  as  well  as  in  birth,  but  too  absolutely 
devoted  to  her  husband  to  remain  at  her  Southern 
home.  When  he  wrote  to  her  at  the  North,  where  she 
was  staying,  it  was  quite  to  be  understood  that  there 
was  a  limit  to  topics  between  them,  as  they  kept  strict- 
ly to  subjects  that  were  foreign  to  the  vexed  question. 
To  the  army  in  the  field,  the  all-absorbing  thought  was 
of  the  actual  occurrences  of  the  day.  The  past  was  for 
the  time  blotted  out ;  the  future  had  no  personal  plans 
in  the  hearts  of  men  who  fought  as  our  heroes  did. 
And  so  it  came  to  pass  that  the  letters  between  the  two, 
with  such  diversity  of  sentiment  regarding  the  contest, 
were  apt  to  be  short  and  solely  personal.  How  the 
eyes  of  that  bright  man  twinkled  when  he  said,  "I  used 
to  look  just  like  that  man  in  the  Kogers  statuette,  when 
I  was  racking  my  brains  to  fill  up  the  sheet  of  paper. 
My  orders  carried  me  constantly  through  the  country 
where  my  wife's  kin  lived.  Why,  Custer,  old  man,  I 
could  not  write  to  her  and  say,  'I  have  cut  the  canal  in 
the  Shenandoah  Valley  and  ruined  your  mother's  plan- 
tation;'  or,  'Yesterday  I  drove  off  all  your  brother's 
stock  to  feed  our  army.'  Of  course  one  can't  talk 
sentiment  on  every  line,  and  so  I  sometimes  sent  off  a 
mighty  short  epistle." 

We  often  lounged  about  my  husband's  room  at  dusk 


180  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

without  a  latiip.  Tlio  iireliglit  reflected  tlie  large  glit- 
tering eyes  of  tlic  animals'  heads,  and  except  that  we 
were  such  a  jolly  faniil}',  the  surroundings  would  have 
suggested  arenas  and  martyrs.  I  used  to  think  that  a 
man  on  the  brink  of  mania  a potu,  thrust  suddenly  into 
such  a  place  in  tlie  dim  flickering  light,  would  be  hur- 
ried to  his  doom  by  fright.  "VVe  loved  the  place  dearly. 
The  great  difficulty  was  that  the  general  would  bury 
himself  too  much,  in  the  delight  of  having  a  castle  as 
securely  barred  as  if  the  entrance  were  by  a  portcullis. 
When  he  had  worked  too  long  and  steadily  I  opened 
the  dooi'S,  determined  that  his  room  should  not  resem- 
ble that  of  Walter  Scott.  An  old  engraving  repre- 
sents a  room  in  which  but  one  chair  is  significantly 
placed.  In  our  plans  for  a  home  in  our  old  age  we  in- 
cluded a  den  for  my  husband  at  the  top  of  the  house. 
We  had  read  somewhere  of  one  like  that  ascribed  to 
Victor  Hugo.  The  room  was  said  not  even  to  have  a 
staircase,  but  was  entered  hy  a  ladder  which  the  owner 
could  draw  up  the  aperture  after  hini. 


TUE   SUMMER   OF   THE   BLACK   HILLS  EXPEDITION.     181 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE    SUMMER    OF    THE    BLACK    HILLS    EXPEDITION. 

I  USED  to  be  thankful  tliat  ours  was  a  mounted  regi- 
ment on  one  account:  if  we  had  belonged  to  the  infan- 
try, the  regiment  would  have  been  sent  out  innch  sooner. 
The  horses  were  too  valuable  to  have  their  lives  endan- 
gered by  encountering  a  blizzard,  while  it  was  believed 
tliat  an  enlisted  man  had  enough  pluck  and  endurance 
to  bring  him  out  of  a  storm  in  one  way  or  another. 
Tardy  as  the  spring  was  up  there,  the  grass  began  at 
last  to  be  suitable  for  grazing,  and  preparations  for  an 
expedition  to  the  Black  Hills  were  being  carried  on.  I 
had  found  accidentally  that  my  husband  was  fitting  up 
an  ambulance  for  travelling,  and  as  he  never  rode  in 
one  himself,  nor  arranged  to  take  one  for  his  own  com- 
fort, I  decided  at  once  that  he  was  planning  to  take  mo 
with  him.  Mary  and  I  had  lived  in  such  close  quarters 
that  she  counted  on  going  also,  and  went  to  the  general 
to  petition.  To  keep  her  from  knowing  that  he  in- 
tended to  take  us,  he  argued  that  we  could  not  get  along 
with  so  little  room  ;  that  there  was  only  to  be  allowed 
lialf  a  wagon  for  the  catup  outfit  of  the  head-qnartero 
mess.  "You  dun'  know  better'n  that,  giniral  T'  she  re- 
plied ;  "  me  and  Miss  Libbie  could  keep  house  in  a  flour- 
barr'l." 


183  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

At  the  very  last,  news  came  t]ironii;li  Indian  scouts 
that  the  siunmer  might  be  full  of  danger,  and  my  lieart 
was  almost  broken  at  finding  that  the  general  did  not 
dare  to  take  me  witli  him.  Whatever  peril  might  be 
awaiting  me  on  the  expe'dition,  nothing  could  be  equal 
to  the  suffering  of  suspense  at  home. 

The  black  hour  came  again,  and  with  it  the  terrible 
parting  which  seemed  a  foreshadowing  of  the  most  in- 
tense anguish  that  our  Heavenly  Father  can  send  to  his 
children.  When  I  resumed  my  life,  and  tried  to  portion 
olf  the  day  witli  occupations,  in  order  that  the  time  should 
fly  faster,  I  found  that  the  one  silver  thread  running 
through  the  dark  woof  of  the  dragging  lioui'S  was  the 
hope  of  the  letters  we  were  promised.  Scouts  were  to  be 
sent  back  four  times  during  the  absence  of  the  regiment. 

The  infantry  came  to  garrison  our  post.  In  the  event 
of  attack,  my  husband  left  a  Gatling  gun  on  the  hills  at 
the  rear  of  the  camp.  It  is  a  small  cannon,  which  is  dis- 
charged by  turning  a  crank  that  scatters  the  shot  in  all 
directions,  and  is  especially  serviceable  at  short  range. 
A  detachment  of  soldiers  was  stationed  on  the  bluff  back 
of  us,  tliat  commanded  the  most  extended  view  of  the 
country.  The  voice  of  the  sentinel  calling,  at  regular 
intervals  during  the  night,  "All's  well,"  often  closed  our 
anxious  eyes.  Out  there  one  slept  lightly,  and  any  un- 
usual noise  was  attributed  to  an  attack  on  our  pickets, 
and  caused  us  many  a  wakeful  hour.  With  what  relief 
we  looked  up  daily  to  the  little  group  of  tents,  when 
we  finally  realized  that  we  were  alone. 

The  officer  who  commanded  this  little  station  was  an 
old  bachelor  who  did  not  believe  in  marriage  in  the 


THE   SUMMER   OF   THE   BLACK   HILLS   EXPEDITIOX.     183 

army.  Not  knowing  tin's,  we  told  him,  with  some  en- 
thusiasm, how  safe  and  thankful  we  felt  in  having  him 
for  our  defender.  He  quite  checked  our  enthusiasm 
bj  replying,  briefly,  "that  in  case  of  attack,  his  duty 
was  to  protect  Government  2:>ropertii ;  the  defence  of 
women  came  lastT  This  was  the  first  instance  I  had 
ever  known  of  an  oflicer  who  did  not  believe  a  woman 
was  God's  best  gift  to  man. 

We  were  not  effectually  suppressed,  for  the  only 
safe  place  in  which  we  could  walk  was  along  the  beat 
of  the  sentry,  on  the  brow  of  the  hill,  near  the  tent 
of  this  zoological  specimen.  Here  we  resorted  every 
evening  at  twilight  to  try  and  get  cool,  for  the  sun 
burns  fiercely  during  the  short  Northern  summer.  With 
the  hot  weather  the  mosquito  war  began — Fort  Lincoln 
M'as  celebrated  as  the  worst  place  in  the  United  States 
for  these  pests.  The  inundations  recurring  each  spring 
opposite  us,  brought  later  in  the  year  myriads  of  the 
insects ;  those  I  had  known  on  the  Red  River  of  the 
South  were  nothing  in  comparison.  If  the  Avind  was  in 
a  certain  direction,  they  tormented  us  all  day  long.  I 
can  see  now  how  we  women  looked,  taking  our  evening 
stroll:  a  little  procession  of  fluttering  females,  with 
scarfs  and  over-dresses  drawn  over  our  heads,  whisking 
handkercliiefs  and  beating  the  air  with  fans.  It  re- 
quired constant  activity  to  keep  off  the  swarms  of  those 
wretched  little  insects  that  annoyed  us  every  moment 
during  our  airing.  In  the  evening  we  became  almost 
desperate.  It  seemed  very  hard,  after  our  long  winter's 
imprisonment,  to  miss  a  single  hour  out-of-doors  during 
the  short  summer. 


184  BOOTS   AND   SADDLES. 

AVe  luid  petitioned  tliat  in  the  rcbuildint^  of  onr 
]ionse  the  piazza  around  it  should  be  made  wide,  like 
those  'we  enjoved  in  the  South,  On  this  delightful  gal- 
lery we  assembled  every  evening.  We  were  obliged  to 
nudve  special  toilets  for  our  protection,  and  they  were 
far  from  picturesque  or  becoming.  Some  one  discovered 
that  wrapping  newspapers  around  our  ardcles  and  feet, 
and  drawing  the  stocking  over,  would  protect  down  to 
the  slipper;  then,  after  tuching  our  skirts  closely  around 
us,  we  Hxed  ourselves  in  a  chaii",  not  daring  to  move. 

One  night  a  strange  officer  came  to  see  us,  and  taking 
his  place  among  the  group  of  liuddled-up  women,  he 
tried  not  to  smile.  I  discovered  him  taking  in  my  tout 
e«s<???2Wf,  however, and  realized  myself  what  an  incongru- 
ity I  was  on  that  lovely  gallery  and  in  the  broad  moon- 
light. I  had  adopted  a  liead-net:  they  are  little  tarlatan 
bags,  gathered  at  one  end  and  just  large  enough  to  slip 
over  the  head  ;  rattans  are  run  round  these  to  prevent 
their  touching  the  face — they  look  like  dolls' crinolines, 
and  would  make  a  seraph  seem  ugly.  In  desperation  I 
had  added  a  watei'proof  cloak,  buckskin  gauntlets,  and 
forgot  to  hide  under  my  gown  the  tips  of  the  general's 
riding-boots!  Tucked  up  like  a  mummy,  I  was  some- 
thing at  which  no  one  could  resist  laughing.  The  stran- 
ger beat  off  the  mosquitoes  until  there  laj'-  on  the  Hoor 
before  him  a  black  semi-cirelo  of  those  he  had  slain.  lie 
acknowledged  later  that  all  vanity  regarding  personal 
appearance  would  be  apt  to  disappear  before  the  attacks 
to  which  we  were  subjected.  We  fought  in  succession 
five  varieties  of  mosquitoes ;  the  last  that  came  were 
the  most  vicious.     They  were  so  small  they  slid  easily 


THE   SUMMER   OF   THE   BLACK   HILLS  EXPEDITIOX.      185 

through  the  ordinary  bar,  and  wc  liad  to  put  an  inside 
laj'er  of  tarlatan  on  doors  and  windows.  We  did  not 
venture  to  light  a  lamp  in  the  evening,  and  at  live 
o'clock  the  netting  was  let  down  over  the  beds,  and  doors 
and  windows  closed.  When  it  came  time  to  retire  we 
removed  our  garments  in  another  room,  and  grew  skil- 
ful in  making  sudden  sallies  into  the  sleeping-room  and 
quick  plunges  under  tlie  bar. 

The  cattle  and  horses  suffered  pitiably  during  the 
reign  of  the  mosquitoes.  They  used  to  push  their  way 
into  the  underbrush  to  try  if  a  thicket  would  afford 
tliera  protection  ;  if  a  fire  were  lighted  for  their  relief, 
they  huddled  together  on  the  side  towards  which  the 
wind  blew  the  smoke.  As  it  was  down  by  the  river, 
they  were  worse  off  than  ever.  The  cattle  grew  thin, 
for  there  were  days  when  it  was  impossible  for  tlicm  to 
graze.  We  knew  of  their  being  driven  mad  and  dying 
of  exhaustion  after  a  long  season  of  torment.  The  poor 
dogs  dug  deep  holes  in  the  side  of  the  hills,  where  they 
half  smothered  in  their  attempt  to  escape. 

The  Missouri  River  at  the  point  where  we  had  to 
cross  sometimes  represented  a  lifetime  of  terror  to  me. 
We  were  occasionally  compelled  to  go  to  the  town  of 
Bismarck,  four  miles  back  on  the  other  side.  I  could 
not  escape  the  journey,  for  it  was  the  termination  of  the 
I'ailroad,  and  officers  and  their  families  coming  from 
the  East  were  often  detained  there;  while  waiting  for 
the  steamer  to  take  them  to  their  posts  they  were  com- 
pelled to  stay  in  the  untidy,  uncomfortable  little  hotel. 
If  I  sent  for  them  they  declined  to  come  to  us,  fearing 
they  might  make  extra  trouble;  if  I  went  for  them  in 


ISa  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

tlie  post  iiinhnluiice,  I  rarely  made  a  fruliless  errand. 
Even  when  elated  with  the  prospect  of  a  little  outing  at 
St.  Paul,  I  so  dreaded  that  terrible  river  that  we  must 
cross  going  and  coming,  it  almost  destro3'ed  my  pleasure 
for  a  time.  The  current  was  so  swift  that  it  was  almost 
impossible  for  the  strongest  swimmer  to  save  himself 
if  once  he  fell  in:  the  mud  settled  on  him  instantly, 
clofjo-cd  his  movements,  and  bore  him  under.  Some  of 
the  soldiers  had  been  drowned  in  attempting  to  cross, 
in  frail,  insecure  skiffs,  to  the  drinking- huts  opposite. 
As  I  looked  into  this  roaring  torrent,  whose  current 
rushes  on  at  the  rate  of  six  miles  an  hour,  I  rai'ely  failed 
to  picture  to  myself  the  upturned  faces  of  these  lost 
men. 

The  river  is  very  crooked,  and  full  of  sand-bars, 
the  channel  changing  every  year.  The  banks  are  so 
honeycombed  by  the  force  of  the  water  that  great  por- 
tions arc  constantly  caving  in.  The}^  used  to  fall  with 
a  loud  thud  into  the  river,  seeming  to  unsettle  the  very 
foundations  of  the  earth.  In  consequence,  it  was  hard 
work  for  the  ferry-boat  to  make  a  landing,  and  more 
difficult  to  keep  tied  up,  when  once  there. 

The  boat  we  were  obliged  to  use  Avas  owned  by  some 
citizens  who  had  contracted  with  the  Government  to 
do  the  work  at  that  point.  In  honor  of  its  new  duty 
they  renamed  it  The  Union.  The  AVestern  word  "  ram- 
shackl}' "  described  it.  It  was  too  large  and  unwieldy 
for  the  purpose,  and  it  had  been  condemned  as  unsafe 
farther  down  the  river,  where  citizens  value  life  more 
iiighly.  The  wheezing  and  groaning  of  the  old  ma- 
chinery told  plainly  how^  great  an  effort  it  was  to  propel 


THE   SUMMER   OF   THE   BLACK   HILLS  EXPEDITION.      187 

tlie  boat  at  all.  The  road  down  to  the  plank  was  so 
steep,  cut  deep  into  the  bank  as  it  was,  that  even  with 
the  brakes  on,  the  ambulance  seemed  to  be  turning  a 
somersault  over  the  four  nuiles.  They  kicked  and 
stru.o^gled,  and  opposed  going  on  the  boat  at  all.  We 
struck  suddenly  at  the  foot  of  the  incline,  with  a  thump 
that  threw  us  off  the  seat  of  the  ambulance.  The  "lii- 
yis"  of  the  driver,  the  creak  of  the  iron  brake,  and  the 
expressive  remarks  of  the  boatman  in  malediction  upon 
the  mules,  made  it  all  seem  like  a  descent  into  Hades, 
and  the  river  Styx  an  enviable  river  in  contrast.  The 
ambulance  was  placed  on  deck,  where  we  could  see  the 
patched  boiler,  and  through  the  chinks  and  seams  of  the 
furnaces  we  watched  the  fire,  expecting  an  explosion 
momentaril}'. 

After  we  were  once  out  in  the  channel  the  real  trou- 
ble began.  I  never  knew,  when  I  started  for  Bismarck, 
whether  we  would  not  land  at  Yankton,  live  hundred 
miles  below.  The  wheel  often  refused  to  revolve  more 
than  half-way,  the  boat  would  turn  about,  and  we  would 
shoot  down  the  river  at  a  mad  rate.  I  used  to  receive 
elaborate  nautical  explanations  from  the  confused  old 
captain  why  that  happened.  My  intellect  was  slow  to 
take  in  any  other  thought  than  the  terrifying  one — that 
he  had  lost  control  of  the  boat.  I  never  felt  tranquil, 
even  when  the  difficulty  was  righted,  until  I  set  my 
foot  on  the  shore,  though  the  ground  itself  was  insecure 
from  being  honeycombed  by  the  current.  The  captain 
doubtless  heard  niy  prean  of  thanks  when  I  turned  my 
back  on  his  old  craft,  for  once  afterwards  I  received  from 
him  a  crumpled,  soiled  letter,  with  curious  spelling  and 


188  BOOTS   AND   SADDLES. 

cramped  hand,  in  wliicli  lie  addressed  me  as  "higlily 
honored  hidj',"  and  in  lofty-sounding  terms  proceeded 
to  praise  his  boat,  assuring  me  that  if  I  would  deign  to 
confer  on  him  the  honor  of  mj  presence,  he  would 
prove  it  to  be  quite  safe,  and  as  '"peert"  a  steamer  as 
sailed.  With  a  great  flourish,  he  ended,  "  for  The  Union 
must  and  shall  be  preserved,"  and  signed  himself  my 
most  humble  admirer. 

AVe  were  told,  when  the  expedition  started,  that  we 
might  expect  our  first  letters  in  two  weeks.  The  mail 
was  delayed,  unfortunately,  and  each  day  after  the  fort- 
night had  expired  seemed  a  month.  In  spite  of  all  my 
efforts  to  be  busy,  there  was  little  heart  in  any  occupa- 
tion. The  women  met  together  every  day  and  read 
aloud  in  turn.  Every  one  set  to  work  to  make  a  pres- 
ent for  the  absent  ones  with  which  to  surprise  them 
on  their  return.  We  played  croquet.  This  was  tame 
sport,  however,  for  no  one  dared  to  vary  the  hum-drum 
diversion  by  a  brisk  little  quarrel,  which  is  the  usual 
accompaniment  of  that  game.  We  feared  to  disagree 
even  over  trifles,  for  if  we  did  it  might  end  in  oui- 
losing  our  only  companionship. 

We  knew  that  we  could  not  expect,  in  that  climate, 
that  the  freshness  of  summer  would  last  for  more  than 
a  short  time  after  the  sun  had  come  to  its  supremest 
in  the  way  of  heat.  The  drouth  was  nnbroken  ;  the 
dews  were  hardly  perceptible.  That  year  even  our 
brief  enjoyment  of  the  verdure  was  cut  short.  A  si- 
rocco came  up  suddenly.  The  sky  became  copper-col- 
ored, and  the  air  murky  and  stifling;  the  slightest  touch 
of  metal,  or  even  the  door-handles,  almost  blistered  the 


THE  SUMMER  OF  THE  BLACK  HILLS  EXPEDITIOX.      189 

fingers.  The  strong  wind  that  blew  seemed  to  shrivel 
the  slcin  as  it  touched  us.  The  grass  was  burned  down 
into  the  roots,  and  we  liad  no  more  of  it  that  season. 
This  wind  lasted  for  two  liours,  and  we  could  not  keep 
back  apprehensions  at  the  strange  occurrence.  After 
that,  during  the  summer,  as  we  walked  over  the  lit- 
tle space  allowed  us,  our  shoes  were  cut  by  the  crisp 
brown  stubble,  and  the  sod  was  dry  and  unyielding 
under  our  feet.  As  far  as  we  could  see,  the  scorched 
earth  sent  up  over  its  surface  floating  waves  of  heat- 
ed atmosphere.  No  green  thing  was  left.  The  only 
flowers  that  had  not  been  scorched  out  of  existence 
were  the  soap  plants,  which  have  a  sword-like  stalk, 
out  of  which  grow  the  thick,  creamy  petals  of  its  flower. 
The  roots  that  extend  for  many  feet  in  all  directions 
near  the  surface  of  the  soil,  enable  it  to  secure  moisture 
sufficient  to  keep  it  alive.  The  only  other  flower  was 
the  blue -bell,  which  dotted  a  hill  where  we  were  ac- 
customed to  climb  in  order  to  command  a  better  view 
of  the  country  in  our  efforts  to  discover  the  scouts  with 
the  mail.  One  can  scarcely  imagine  how  hungrily  we 
gazed  at  those  little  blossoms.  They  swung  lightly  on 
their  cunningly  fashioned  stems,  that  swayed  and  tossed 
the  tiny  aznre  cups,  but  withstood  the  strongest  wind. 
I  cannot  see  even  a  sketch  of  that  flower  now  without 
thinking  how  grateful  we  were  for  them  out  there  in 
that  stripped  and  almost  "  God-forgotten  "  land.  When 
we  threw  ourselves  on  the  turf  among  them,  the  little 
bells  almost  seemed  to  us  to  ring  out  a  tiny  sound,  as 
if  they  were  saying,  in  flowery  cadence,  "The  hand 
that  made  us  is  divine." 


190  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 

Some  of  our  eyes  seemed  to  be  perpetually  strained, 
watching  the  horizon  for  the  longed-for  scouts.  At  dawn 
one  morning — which  is  at  three  o'clock  in  summer  in 
Dakota — I  was  awakened  by  strange  sounds  at  the  door. 
AVhen  I  drew  the  curtain,  there  were  the  Ree  scouts, 
and  on  their  ponies  the  mail-bag,  marked  by  some  face- 
tious hand,  "  Black  Hills  Express."  It  took  but  a  sec- 
ond to  fling  on  a  wrapper  and  fairly  tumble  down  the 
steps.  The  Indians  made  the  sign  of  long  hair  and 
called  "  Ouches,"  which  is  the  word  denoting  that  in 
their  language.  (The  general  had  borne  this  name  with 
them  for  some  time.)  I  was  too  impatient  to  wait  their 
tardj^  movements,  and  tried  to  loosen  the  mail -bag. 
The  Indian,  always  pompous  and  important  if  he  car- 
ries despatches,  wafted  me  away.  I  understood  enough, 
to  be  sure,  that  no  one  would  receive  the  mail  but  the 
officer  in  command.  As  the  scouts  slowly  moved  down 
the  line  towards  his  quarters,  other  impatient  female 
figures  with  flying  hair  came  dancing  restlessly  out  on 
the  porches.  Every  woman  soon  knew  that  news  had 
come.  Even  the  cooks,  scantily  attired,  ran  out  to 
stand  beside  their  mistresses  and  Avave  their  fat  arms 
to  the  Indians  to  hurry  them  on.  Our  faithful  soldier, 
Keevan,  whom  my  husband  had  left  to  care  for  us, 
hearing  the  commotion,  came  to  ask  what  he  could  do. 
I  sent  him  to  bring  back  the  letters.  lie,  in  his  turn, 
thinking  only  to  serve  me,  made  an  effort  to  open  the 
mail-bag,  but  the  watchful  Indian  suppressed  him  quick- 
]y.  The  old  fellow's  face  beamed  with  delight  wdien 
he  placed  the  great  official  envelope,  crowded  with 
closely -WTitten  pages,  in   my  hand.     How   soon  they 


THE  SUMMER  OF   THE   BLACK  HILLS  EXPEDITIOX.     191 

were  devoured,  thougb,  and  what  a  blank  there  seemed 
in  tlie  day  wlien  we  knew  that  we  liad  nothing  more 
to  expect ! 

Tliree  times  after  that  we  had  letters.  They  were 
most  interesting,  with  descriptions  of  the  charm  of 
travelling  over  ground  no  white  feet  had  ever  before 
touched.  My  family  could  not  avoid,  even  at  that 
distance,  studying  up  little  plans  to  tease  me.  After 
describing  their  discovery  and  entrance  into  a  large 
and  almost  hidden  cave,  n)y  husband  said  that  Colonel 
Tom  and  he  had  come  upon  the  bones  of  a  M'hite  man, 
doubtless  the  only  one  who  had  ever  set  foot  in  that 
portion  of  the  W'orld.  Beside  him  lay  a  tin  cup,  some 
buttons  from  his  coat,  and  a  rusty,  ancient  flint-lock 
musket.  All  were  marked  with  his  initials.  They 
were  the  same  as  those  of  one  of  the  friends  whom  I 
had  known  when  a  little  romping  girl  of  seventeen, 
"This,"  they  said,  in  the  language  of  a  dime  novel, 
"explains  the  mysterious  disappearance  of  your  old 
love.  Rather  than  meet  such  a  fate  as  awaited  hin^ 
in  marrying  you,  old  lady,  he  has  chosen  to  seek  out 
solitude  in  a  cavern,  and  there  die."  Of  course  I 
thought  even  the  story  of  the  finding  of  the  cave  a 
fabrication  for  my  benefi-t.  I  enjoyed  it  hugel}^,  and 
thought  what  ingenuity  they  had  employed  to  invent 
such  a  tale.  When  they  came  back  at  the  end  of  the 
summer,  and  brought  the  musket  and  other  mementos, 
with  the  very  initials  rusting  in  the  metal,  and  declared 
on  honor  that  they  had  found  the  skeleton,  I  was  com- 
pelled to  believe  them.  Not  that  the  remains  of  the 
unfortunate  man  were  those  of  my  early  friend,  who 


192  COOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

M'as  soon  afterwards  acconnted  for,  but  that  soino  un- 
happy man  liaJ  actual]}^  wandered  into  tliat  dismal 
place  and  died  a  tragic  death  alone. 

When  the  day  of  their  return  came,  I  was  simply  wild 
with  jo3\  I  hid  behind  the  door  as  the  command  rode 
into  garrison,  ashamed  to  be  seen  crying  and  laugliing 
and  dancing  up  and  down  with  excitement.  I  tried  to 
remain  there  and  receive  the  general,  screened  from  the 
eyes  of  outsiders.  It  was  impossible.  I  was  down  the 
steps  and  beside  my  husband  witliout  being  conscious  of 
how  I  got  there.  I  was  recalled  to  my  senses  and  over- 
whelmed with  confusion  by  a  great  cheer  from  the  sol- 
diers, who,  I  had  forgotten,  were  lookers-on.  Regular 
soldiers  rarely  cheer,  and  the  unusual  sound,  together 
with  the  embarrassment  into  which  I  had  unconsciously 
plunged  myself,  made  the  few  steps  back  to  the  house 
seem  a  mile. 

When  we  could  take  time  to  look  every  one  over, 
they  were  all  amusing  enough.  Some  wives  did  not 
know  their  husbands,  and  looked  indignant  enough  when 
caught  in  an  embrace  by  an  apparent  stranger.  Main-, 
like  the  general,  had  grown  heavy  beards.  All  were 
sun-burnt,  their  hair  faded,  and  their  clothes  so  patched 
that  the  original  blue  of  the  uniform  was  scarcely  visi- 
ble. Of  course  there  had  been  nothing  on  the  expedi- 
tion save  pieces  of  white  canvas  W'ith  which  to  rein- 
force the  I'iding-breeches,  put  new  elbows  on  sleeves, 
and  replace  the  worn  knees. 

The  boots  were  out  at  tlie  toes,  and  the  clothing  of 
some  were  so  beyond  repairing  that  the  officers  wanted 
to  escape  observation   by  slipping,  M'ith  their  tattered 


THE   SUMMER   OF   THE   BLACK   HILLS  EXPEDITION.     193 

racs,  into  the  kitchen -door.  Tlie  instruments  of  the 
band  were  jammed  and  tarnished,  but  they  still  pro- 
duced enough  music  for  us  to  recognize  the  old  tune  of 
"Garryowen,"  to  whicli  the  regiment  always  returned. 

Bj'-and-by  the  long  wagon-train  appeared.  Many  of 
the  covers  had  elk  horns  strapped  to  them,  until  they 
looked  like  strange  bristling  animals  as  they  drew  near. 
Some  of  the  antlers  were  brought  to  us  as  presents. 
Besides  them  Ave  had  skins,  specimens  of  gold  and 
mica,  and  petrified  shells  of  iridescent  colors,  snake  rat- 
tles, pressed  flowers,  and  petrified  wood.  My  husband 
brought  me  a  keg  of  the  most  delicious  water  from  a 
mountain-stream.  It  was  almost  my  only  look  at  clear 
water  for  years,  as  most  of  the  streams  west  of  the  Mis- 
souri are  muddy. 

As  soon  as  the  column  appeared  in  sight,  the  old  sol- 
dier who  had  served  me  with  such  fidelity  all  summer 
went  to  Mary  to  tell  her  the  news.  He  also  said  that  as 
long  as  the  general  had  put  Mrs.  Custer  in  his  charge 
he  knew  how  to  behave.  Now,  being  no  longer  on 
honor,  he  added,  "  I  intend  to  celebrate  their  return  by 
going  on  a  tremendous  'bum.'"  IIow  any  one  could 
get  drunk  in  so  short  a  time  was  a  mystery.  The  gen- 
eral had  hardly  removed  his  buckskin-coat  before  the 
old  fellow  stumbled  up  the  steps  and  nearly  fell  in 
the  door,  with  his  arms  full  of  puppies  that  had  arrived 
during  the  summer.  The  rejoicing  was  too  general  for 
misdemeanors  to  be  noticed.  The  man  was  thanked  for 
his  watchful  care  over  me  during  the  months  past,  and 
advised  to  find  a  place  to  go  to  sleep  in  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. 

9 


194  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

DOMESTIC     TRIALS. 

Fkom  tlic  clouds  and  gloom  of  tliose  summer  days,  1 
walked  again  into  the  broad  blaze  of  sunshine  which  my 
husband's  blithe  spirit  made.  I  did  everything  I  could 
to  put  out  of  my  mind  the  long,  anxious,  lonely  months. 
It  was  still  pleasant  enough  to  ride,  and  occasionally  we 
went  out  in  parties  large  enough  to  be  safe,  and  had  a 
jack-rabbit  or  wolf  chase.  In  the  autumn  we  went  into 
the  States  on  a  short  leave  of  absence.  Much  to  our  re- 
gret we  had  to  take  our  prized  girl-friend  home.  Her 
family  begged  for  her  return.  The  last  good-bye  to  us 
was  an  appeal  from  the  young  officers  to  bring  back 
another;  and  we  did  so,  for  while  we  were  East  we  had 
the  good-fortune  to  persuade  another  father  and  mother 
to  part  with  tlieir  daughter. 

An  incident  of  our  journey  was  an  amusing  illustra- 
tion of  the  vicissitudes  of  "Western  life.  In  passing 
through  Fargo,  on  the  Northern  Pacific  Pailroad,  an 
old  townsman  of  ours  always  came  to  see  ns,  but  invari- 
ably after  dark.  He  had  taken  a  claim  in  the  very  heart 
of  the  town,  which  was  disputed  by  an  energetic  widow. 
If  he  left  his  place  in  the  daytime  for  a  few  hours,  he 
invariably  returned  to  find  his  cabin  occupied  by  the 
goods  and  chattels  of  the  widow,  and  his  own  effects  re- 


DOMESTIC   TRIALS.  195 

posing  on  the  snow  outside  his  door.  Then  ensued  the 
ejection  of  the  interloper  b}''  one  of  the  town  authori- 
ties, and  our  friend  would  re-establish  iiiinself.  After 
these  raids  were  repeated  a  few  times,  he  learned  to  keep 
guard  during  the  day  and  steal  out  after  dark.  In  vain 
outsiders  advised  him  to  settle  the  difficulty  by  asking  a 
clergyman  to  unite  the  claims.  His  cj^es  turned  from 
the  widow  to  a  young  girl  in  his  native  State,  who  now 
presides  unmolested  over  the  disputed  domicile,  while 
the  widow  has  forsaken  war  for  the  peace  of  another 
hearthstone. 

The  question  of  servants  was  a  very  serious  one  to 
those  living  on  the  borders  of  civilization  as  we  did. 
There  was  never  a  station  equal  to  those  frozen-up  re- 
gions. Should  servants  go  out  there  in  the  fall,  they 
were  almost  certain  to  become  engaged  to  the  soldiers 
and  marry  after  the  trains  were  taken  off  and  no  new 
ones  could  reach  us.  It  often  happened  that  delicate 
ladies  had  to  do  all  kinds  of  menial  service  for  a  time. 
Except  for  a  kind-hearted  soldier  now  and  then,  who 
was  too  devoted  to  the  wife  of  his  company  officer  to 
see  her  do  everything,  I  hardly  know  how  army  ladies 
would  have  endured  their  occasional  domestic  trials. 
The  soldiers  were  especiallj'  fond  of  children,  and  knew 
how  to  amuse  them  ;  indeed,  a  willing  heart  made  them 
quick  to  learn  all  kinds  of  domestic  work.  I  think  they 
even  regretted  that  they  could  not  sew,  when  they  saw 
an  overtaxed  lady  wearily  moving  her  needle.  We  had 
no  trouble,  fortunately.  Our  colored  cook  not  only  com- 
manded us,  and  as  much  of  the  post  as  she  could,  but 
she  tyrannized  over  her  two  sisters  whom  she  had  brought 


196  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 

from  Kontuck}'  for  ns.  These  were  thought  excellent 
servants,  but  Mary,  invested  with  a  "little  brief  author- 
ity,'* ruled  like  a  despot.  The  youngest  having  been 
born  after  the  emancipation  proclamation,  was  looked 
down  upon  by  her  elder  sister,  who  had  been  a  slave. 
In  her  moments  of  rage  the  most  deadly  insult  was  to 
call  the  younger  one  "  you  worthless  free  nigger,  you  !" 
I  think  with  deep  gratitude  of  their  devotion  to  us.  As 
they  were  colored  people  they  had  not  even  the  excite- 
ment of  beaux  among  the  enlisted  men.  Sometimes 
they  sighed  and  longed  fur  home.  At  such  times  Mary 
used  to  say  to  me,  ""Miss  Libbie,  you  has  the  giniral, 
and  you  don'  mind  whar  you  is  so  long  as  you  lias  him, 
but  you  can't  tell  wliat  it  is  for  us  to  live  in  a  country 
wha'  there's  no  festibuls,  meetin'-houses,  or  dances." 

AVhen  we  readied  St.  Paul,  on  our  return  from  leave 
of  absence,  we  were  generally  met  with  telegrams  from 
our  friends  at  Fort  Lincoln,  im}>loring  us  to  bring  them 
cooks.  The  railroad  officials  were  good  enough  to  give 
us  passes,  so  we.  could  always  take  them  without  much 
trouble.  The  first  time  after  advertising,  only  the  young 
and  pretty  ones  were  selected  from  those  who  came  to 
us  at  the  hotel.  Their  almost  instantaneous  capitula- 
tion to  the  devotion  of  the  soldiers  taught  us  a  lesson. 
After  that  we  only  took  the  middle-aged  and  plain. 
When  we  were  fairly  started  on  our  journey,  the  gen- 
eral would  look  them  over,  chuckle  to  himself,  and  jog 
my  elbow  for  me  to  see  the  ancients  as  tourists.  lie 
would  add,  under  his  breath,  that  evidently  we  had  set- 
tled the  question  that  time,  for  no  soldier  would  look 
at  such  antediluvians.    lie  reckoned  too  soon.    He  hard- 


DOMESTIC   TRIALS.  197 

l,y  took  into  consideration  that  after  liundrods  of  sol- 
diers had  lived  for  months  witiiout  seeing  so  much  as 
the  distant  flutter  of  a  woman's  drapery,  they  ceased  to 
be  fastidious  or  critical.  Without  an  exception  these 
antique,  parchment-faced  women,  in  a  few  weeks  after 
we  had  delivered  them  over  to  their  mistresses,  began 
to  metamorphose.  They  bought  tawdry  ornaments  at 
the  sutler's  store,  and  hurried  after  dinner  to  adorn 
themselves  to  meet  the  enlisted  men,  who  even  under 
adverse  circumstances  will  "a-wooing  go." 

I  remember  well  tlie  disheartened  eyes  of  one  of  our 
pretty  young  friends  when  she  told  me  it  was  of  no 
manner  of  use  to  try  and  keep  a  white  servant.  Even 
the  ugly  old  female  that  we  had  brought  her,  and  that 
cooked  so  well,  was  already  beginning  to  primp  and 
powder.  By  tliis  time  our  dearly  loved  neighbor  had 
become  exhausted  by  tlie  almost  constant  care  of  her 
two  children,  and  with  only  inefficient  servants  to  help 
her.  Through  our  sj'mpathy  for  the  hard  life  she  led 
out  in  that  wilderness  we  had  fallen  into  the  way  of 
calling  her  "poor  Miss  Annie,"  having  known  her  as  a 
girl.  In  the  States  she  would  have  been  "  rich  Miss 
Annie."  Witli  a  brave,  handsome  husband,  a  distin- 
guished father,  an  abundant  income,  and  bright,  health- 
ful children,  she  vjas  rich.  It  would  not  have  been 
strange  if  the  clouds  had  obscured  these  blessings,  liv- 
ing the  taxing,  wearying  life  she  did  on  the  frontier. 
In  vain  the  devoted  husband  souglit  to  share  her  cares. 
The  very  climax  of  licr  troubles  seemed  to  have  arrived 
when  she  confided  to  me  that  she  would  soon  need  an 
experienced  nurse  to  care  for  her  through  her  coming 


198  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 

peril.  The  trains  had  ceased  running,  so  that  one  could 
not  be  sent  on  from  St.  Paul.  There  was  no  neighborly 
help  to  be  expected  even,  for  all  of  our  ladies  were 
young  and  inexperienced.  There  seemed  to  be  no  one 
to  whom  we  could  look  for  aid.  Instead  of  rejoicing, 
as  we  would  have  done  in  the  States  over  the  sweet 
privilege  of  coming  maternity,  we  cried  and  were  al- 
most disconsolate.  There  were  no  soft,  dainty  clothes 
to  receive  the  little  stranger,  no  one  to  take  care  of  it 
when  it  did  come  ;  the  young  surgeon  was  wholly  inex- 
perienced in  such  duty,  and  the  future  looked  gloomy 
enough.  Fortunately,  I  remembered  at  last  one  of  the 
camp  women,  who  had  long  followed  the  regiment  as 
laundress,  and  had  led  a  quiet,  orderly  life.  "Poor 
Miss  Annie"  shuddered  when  I  spoke  of  her,  for  the 
woman  was  a  Mexican,  and  like  the  rest  of  that  hairy 
tribe  she  had  so  coarse  and  stubborn  a  beard  that 
her  chin  had  a  blue  look  after  shaving,  in  marked 
contrast  to  her  swarthy  face.  She  was  tall,  angular, 
awkward,  and  seemingly  coarse,  but  I  knew  her  to  be 
tender-hearted.  In  days  gone  by  I  had  found,  when 
she  told  mo  her  troubles,  that  they  had  softened  her 
nature. 

"When  she  first  came  to  our  regiment  she  was  married 
to  a  trooper,  who,  to  all  appearances,  was  good  to  her. 
My  first  knowledge  of  her  was  in  Kentucky.  She  was 
our  laundress,  and  when  she  brought  tlie  linen  home,  it 
was  fluted  and  frilled  so  daintily  that  I  considered  her  a 
treasure.  She  always  came  at  night,  and  when  I  went 
out  to  pay  her  she  was  very  shy,  and  kept  a  veil  pinned 
about  the  lower  part  of  her  face.    The  cook  told  me  one 


DOMESTIC  TRIALS.  199 

day  that  she  was  sick  and  in  trouble,  and  I  went  to  see 
her.  It  seemed  the  poor  thing  had  accumulated  several 
hundred  dollars  by  washing,  baking  pies  for  the  soldiers, 
and  sewing  the  clothes  for  them  that  had  been  refitted 
by  the  tailor.  Her  husband  had  obtained  possession  of 
the  money  and  had  deserted.  She  told  me  that  slie 
had  lived  a  rough  life  before  coming  to  the  7th,  even 
dressing  as  a  man  in  order  to  support  herself  by  driving 
the  ox-teams  over  the  plains  to  New  Mexico.  The  rail- 
roads had  replaced  that  mode  of  transporting  freight, 
and  she  was  thrown  out  of  employment.  Finding  the 
life  as  a  laundress  easier,  she  had  resumed  her  woman's 
dress  and  entered  the  army,  and  thinking  to  make  her 
place  more  secure,  had  accepted  the  hand  of  the  man 
whose  desertion  she  was  now  mourning.  It  was  not 
long  after  this,  however,  before  "  Old  Nash"  (for  through 
everything  she  kept  her  first  husband's  name)  consoled 
herself.  Without  going  through  the  ceremony  or  ex- 
pense of  a  divorce,  she  married  another  soldier,  and  had 
come  with  ns  out  to  Dakota.  Of  course  her  husband 
was  obliged  to  march  with  his  company.  It  was  a  hard 
life  for  her,  caujping  out  with  the  other  laundresses,  as 
they  are  limited  for  room,  and  several  are  obliged  to 
share  a  tent  together.  In  the  daytime  they  ride  in  an 
army  wagon,  huddled  in  with  children  and  baggage. 
After  all  the  rough  summer  out-of-doors,  it  was  a  great 
boon  to  her  to  get  a  little  cabin  in  Laundress  Row, 
at  our  post.  Another  trouble  came  to  her,  liowever : 
licr  new  Inisband  succeeded  in  stealing  her  savings  and 
deserting  like  the  first.  "Old  Nash"  mourned  her 
money  a  short  time,  but  soon  found  solace  in  going  to 


200  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

the  soldiers'  balls  dressed  in  gaiiz}',  low-necked  gowns. 
Notwithstanding  her  architectural  build  and  massive 
features,  she  had  no  sooner  accumulated  another  bank 
account  than  her  hand  was  solicited  for  the  third  time. 
Again  ignoring  tlie  law,  and  thinking  divorce  a  super- 
fluons  luxiny,  slie  captured  the  handsomest  soldier  in  his 
company.  He  was  Colonel  Tom's  own  man,  and  when 
we  were  riding  we  often  admired  the  admirably  fitting 
uniform  his  wife  had  made  over,  and  which  displayed 
to  advantage  his  well-proportioned  figure.  It  was  cer- 
tainly a  marlage  de  convenance.  Fortunes  are  compar- 
ative; a  few  hundred  dollars  out  tliere  was  quite  equal 
to  many  thousands  in  New  York.  The  trooper  thought 
he  had  done  a  very  good  thing  for  himself,  for  notwith- 
standing his  wife  was  no  longer  young,  and  was  unde- 
niably homely,  she  could  cook  well  and  spared  him  from 
eating  with  his  company,  and  she  was  a  good  invest- 
ment, for  she  earned  so  much  by  her  indnstr3^  In  ad- 
dition to  all  these  traits,  she  was  already  that  most 
desirable  creature  in  all  walks  of  life — "a  woman  of 
means." 

Tiie  bride  and  groom  returned  from  the  ceremony 
performed  by  the  Bismarck  clergyman,  and  began  house- 
keeping in  the  little  quarters  "Old  Nash"  had  refur- 
bished for  the  occasion.  When  "Miss  Annie"  and  I 
went  down  to  see  her  and  make  our  petitions,  we  found 
the  little  place  shining.  The  bed  was  hung  with  pink 
cambric,  and  on  some  shelves  she  showed  us  silk  and 
woollen  stuffs  for  gowns;  bits  of  carpet  were  on  the 
floor,  and  the  dresser,  in)provised  out  of  a  packing-box, 
shone  with  polished  tins.     Outside  we  were  presented 


DOMESTIC   TRIALS.  201 

to  some  chickens,  wliicli  were  riches  indeed  out  there 
in  that  Kova  Zeniblian  climate.  She  was  very  gentle 
wath  our  friend  when  we  told  our  errand,  and  gave  her 
needful  advice  in  her  broken  Mexican  tongue.  After 
listening  to  her  tribute  to  the  goodness  of  her  husband, 
we  made  such  pitiful  entreaties  that  we  at  last  prevailed 
on  her  to  leave  him.  She  insisted  upon  the  promise 
that  she  might  come  home  every  evening  and  cook  her 
"manny  manny's  supper."  We  learned  from  her  that 
her  own  two  children  had  died  in  IMexico,  and  that  she 
had  learned  midwifeiy  from  her  mother,  and  conlirmed, 
what  I  had  previously  heard,  that  she  had  constant  prac- 
tice among  the  camp  women.  "  Old  Xash  "  appeared  at 
the  required  hour,  and  was  as  skilful  a  physician  as  she 
was  a  nurse.  My  friend  used  to  whisper  to  me  that 
when  she  watched  her  moving  about  in  the  dim  light 
of  the  sick-room,  she  thought  with  a  shiver  sometimes 
how  like  a  man  she  seemed.  Occasionally  she  came  to 
the  bed,  and  in  her  harsh  voice  asked,"  Are  you  comph?" 
— meaning  comfoi-table.  The  gentle,  dexterous  man- 
ner in  which  she  lifted  and  cared  for  the  little  woman 
quieted  her  dread  of  this  great  giraffe.  By  degrees  I 
was  promoted  to  the  duty  of  bathing  and  dressing  the 
little  new-comer,  the  young  motlier  giving  directions 
from  the  pillow.  When  "Old  Nash"  was  no  longer 
absolutely  necessary  she  went  back  to  her  husband — a 
richer  woman  by  much  gratitude  and  a  great  deal  of 
money. 

Her  past  life  of  hardship  and  exposure  told  on  her  in 
time,  and  she  became  ailing  and  rheumatic.  Finally, 
after  we  liad  left  Dakota,  we  heard  that  when  death 

9- 


203  LOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 

approached,  sliu  made  an  appeal  to  the  camp  women 
who  surrounded  her  and  had  nursed  her  throngli  lier 
illness;  she  implored  them  to  put  her  in  her  coffin  just 
as  she  M*as  when  she  died  and  bury  her  at  once.  They, 
thinking  such  a  course  would  not  be  paying  proper  at- 
tention to  the  dead,  broke  their  promise.  The  mystery 
which  the  old  creature  had  guarded  for  so  many  years, 
through  a  life  always  public  and  conspicuous,  was  re- 
vealed :  "Old  Nash,"  years  before,  becoming  Vv'cary  of 
the  laborious  life  of  a  man,  had  assumed  the  disguise  of 
a  woman,  and  hoped  to  carry  the  secret  into  the  grave. 
The  surgeon's  certificate,  stating  the  sex  of  "  Old  Nash," 
together  witli  the  simple  record  of  a  laundress  in  the  regi- 
ment for  ten  years,  was  all  the  brief  history  ever  known. 
After  enduring  the  gibes  and  scoffs  of  his  comrades  for 
a  few  days,  life  became  unbearable  to  the  handsome  sol- 
dier who  had  played  the  part  of  husband  in  order  to  gain 
possession  of  his  wife's  savings  and  vary  the  plain  fare 
of  the  soldier  with  good  suppers;  he  went  into  one  of 
the  company's  stables  when  no  one  was  there  and  shot 
himself.  "When  our  friend,  whom  the  old  creature  had 
so  carefully  nursed,  read  the  nevv'spaper  paragraph  de- 
scribing the  death,  her  only  comment  was  a  reference 
to  the  Mexican's  oft-repeated  question  to  her,  "?^oor 
old  thing,  I  hope  she  is  'comph'  at  last." 


CAPTURE   AND  ESCAPE   OF   RAIX-IN-THE  FACE.         203 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE  OF  RAIN-IN-THE-FACE. 

As  the  second  winter  progressed  it  bade  fair  to  be  a 
repetition  of  the  first,  until  an  event  happened  that  ex- 
cited us  all  very  much. 

I  must  preface  my  account  of  the  occurrence  by  going 
back  to  the  summer  of  the  Yellowstone  campaign.  Two 
of  the  citizens  attached  to  the  expedition,  one  as  the 
sutler,  the  other  as  the  veterinary  surgeon,  were  in  the 
habit  of  riding  by  themselves  a  great  deal.  Not  being 
enlisted  men,  much  more  liberty  than  soldiers  have  was 
allowed  them.  Many  warnings  were  given,  however, 
and  an  instance,  fresh  in  the  minds  of  the  oflScers,  of  the 
killing  by  Indians  of  two  of  their  comrades  the  year 
before  was  repeatedly  told  to  them.  One  day  their  last 
hour  of  lingering  came.  While  they  stopped  to  water 
their  horses,  some  Indians  concealed  in  a  gully  shot 
them  within  sight  of  our  regiment,  who  were  then 
lighting  on  the  hill,  and  did  not  find  the  bodies  for  some 
time  afterwards.  Both  of  the  murdered  men  were  favor- 
ites ;  both  left  families,  and  regret  and  sympathy  w^ere 
general  throughout  the  command. 

A  year  and  a  half  afterwards  information  came  to 
our  post,  Fort  Lincoln,  that  an  Indian  was  then  at  the 
Agency  at  Standing  Rock,  drawing  his  ratii)ns,  blankets, 


201  ROOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

and  ainiiiunition  from  the  Government,  and  at  the  same 
time  boasting  of  tlie  murder  of  these  two  men.  Tliis 
intelligence  created  intense  indignation  in  onr  garrison. 
A  detachment  was  quickly  prepared,  and  started  out 
with  sealed  orders.  The  day  was  bitter,  and  not  a  still 
cold,  for  the  wind  blew,  and  cut  like  needle-points  into 
the  faces  of  the  troopers.  Xo  one  was  aware  even  what 
direction  they  were  to  take.  General  Custer  knew  that 
it  was  absolutely  necessary  that  caution  and  secrecy 
should  be  observed.  At  the  next  post,  twenty  miles 
below,  there  were  scouts  employed.  They  would  not 
fail  to  send  out  a  runner  and  warn  the  Standing  Rock 
Indians  of  the  coming  of  the  command  and  its  object, 
if  they  could  learn  what  it  was.  When  the  runner  car- 
ries important  news  he  starts  with  an  even  gait  in  the 
morning  and  keeps  it  up  all  day,  hardly  stopping  to 
driidc  at  the  streams  he  crosses.  Such  a  courier  would 
outstrip  a  comtnand  of  cavalry  in  the  ordinary  time  it 
makes  on  a  march. 

Accordingly,  Fort  llice  was  left  behind  many  miles 
before  the  orders  were  opened.  They  contained  direc- 
tions to  capture  and  bring  back  an  Uncapapa  Indian, 
-called  Kain -in -the -face,  the  avowed  murderer  of  the 
Kutler  and  the  veterinary  surgeon.  The  command  con- 
^i6tcd  of  two  officers  and  a  hundred  men.  The  general 
had  selected  his  brotlier  to  assist  in  this  delicate  transac- 
tion, as  he  had  been  wont  to  do  ever  since  they  began 
their  life  of  adventure  together  during  the  war.  Tiiey 
arrived  on  the  day  that  the  Indians  were  drawing  their 
rations  of  beef.  There  were  five  hundred  at  the  Agency, 
nriiicd  witli  the  latest  long-range  i-ifles.     It  was  more 


CArXUKE   AXD   ESCAPE   OF   RAIN-IX-TIIE-FACE.         205 

and  more  clear  that  too  much  care  could  not  be  taken 
to  prevent  the  object  of  the  visit  being  known  to  the 
warriors.  An  expedition  had  been  sent  down  once  be- 
fore, but  news  of  its  intentions  had  reached  the  Agency 
in  time  for  the  culprit  to  escape.  lie  could  not  refrain, 
even  after  this  warning,  from  openly  vaunting  his 
crime. 

In  order  then  to  deceive  as  to  the  purport  of  their 
appearance  at  the  Agency,  the  captain  in  command  re- 
sorted to  a  ruse.  lie  sent  lifty  men  to  the  camp  ten 
miles  away  to  make  inquiries  for  three  Indians  who  had 
murdered  citizens  on  the  Ked  River  the  year  before. 
Colonel  Custer  was  ordered  to  take  five  picked  men  and 
go  to  the  trader's  store,  where  the  Indians  resort  con- 
stantly. This  required  great  coolness  and  extreme  pa- 
tience, for  they  had  to  lounge  about,  seemingly  indiffer- 
ent, until  they  could  be  certain  the  right  man  was  dis- 
covered. The  cold  made  the  Indians  draw  their  blankets 
around  them  and  over  their  heads.  There  is  never  any 
individuality  about  their  dress  unless  when  arrayed  for 
a  council  or  a  dance  ;  it  was  therefore  almost  impossible 
to  tell  one  from  the  other. 

Colonel  Tom  had  to  wait  for  hours,  only  looking  fur- 
tively when  the  sharp  eyes  of  tiicse  wary  creatures  were 
off  guard.  At  last  one  of  them  loosened  his  blanket, 
and  with  the  meagre  description  that  had  been  given 
him,  Colonel  Tom  identified  him  as  Kain-in-the-facc. 
Coining  suddenly  from  behind,  he  threw  his  arms  about 
him,  and  seized  the  Winchester  rifle  that  the  savage 
attempted  to  cock.  lie  was  taken  entirely  by  surprise. 
No  fear  showed  itself,  but  from   the  characteristically 


206  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

Stolid  face  hate  and  revenge  flashed  out  for  an  instant. 
He  drew  himself  np  in  an  independent  manner,  to  show 
his  brother  warriors  that  he  did  not  dread  death. 

Among  them  he  had  been  considered  brave  beyond 
precedent,  because  he  had  dared  to  enter  the  Agency 
store  at  all,  and  so  encounter  the  risk  of  arrest.  The 
soldiers  tied  his  hands  and  mounted  guard  over  him. 
About  thirty  Indians  surrounded  them  instantly,  and 
one  old  orator  commenced  an  harangue  to  the  others,  in- 
citing  them  to  recapture  their  brother.  Breathless  ex- 
citement prevailed.  At  that  moment  the  captain  in 
command  appeared  in  their  midst.  With  the  same  cool- 
ness he  had  shown  in  the  war  and  during  the  six  years 
of  his  Indian  campaigns,  lie  spoke  to  them,  through  an 
interpreter.  AVith  prudence  and  tact  he  explained  that 
tliey  intended  to  give  the  prisoner  exactly  the  treatment 
a  white  man  would  receive  under  like  circumstances; 
that  nothing  would  induce  them  to  give  him  up;  and 
the  better  plan,  to  save  bloodshed,  would  be  for  the 
chiefs  to  withdraw  and  take  with  them  their  followers. 
Seeing  that  they  could  accomplish  nothing  by  intimi- 
dation or  by  superior  numbers,  they  had  recourse  to 
parley  and  proposed  to  compromise.  They  offered  as  a 
sacrifice  two  Indians  of  tlie  tribe  in  exchange  for  Hain- 
in-the-face. 

It  was  generosity  like  tliat  of  Artemus  Ward,  M'ho 
offered  his  wife's  relatives  on  the  altar  of  his  country, 
for  they  took  care  not  to  offer  for  sacrifice  any  but 
Indians  of  low  rank.  liain-in-the-face  was  a  very  dis- 
tinguished warrior  among  them,  and  belonged  to  a 
family  of  six  brothers,  one  of  whom,  Iron  Hoi"SC,  was 


CAPTURE   AAD   ESCAPE   OF  KAIN-IN-THE-FACE.  207 

very  iuflucntial.  The  officers  prevailed  in  tlie  end,  and 
tiie  prisoner  was  taken  to  the  cavalry  camp.  Daring 
the  time  that  the  Indians  were  opposing  his  removal, 
the  troopers  had  assembled  aronnd  the  entrance,  ready 
for  any  emergency,  and  prepai-jd  to  escort  t\\<i  mur- 
derer away.  The  Indians  instantly  vanished;  all  went 
quickly  and  quietly  to  their  camp,  ten  miles  distant. 
Later  in  the  day  a  party  of  fifty  mounted  warriors 
dashed  through  the  Agency  to  the  road  beyond,  whicli 
liad  to  be  taken  by  our  troopers  on  the  way  home.  Of 
course  our  officers  expected  an  attack  from  that  party 
Avhen  they  began  their  liomeward  march ;  to  their  sur- 
]>rise,  they  were  unmolested.  We  learned  afterwards 
that  the  mounted  Indians  went  to  the  camp  of  Two 
Bears  to  urge  the  young  braves  there  to  combine  witli 
them  in  the  recapture  of  Ilain-in-the-face.  Two  Bears 
had  loug  been  friendly  to  the  white  man  ;  he  was  too 
old  to  fight,  and  prevented  his  young  men  from  joining 
in  the  contemplated  rescue. 

After  the  command  had  returned  and  the  officers 
had  reported.  General  Custer  sent  for  liain-in-the-face. 
He  was  tall,  straight,  and  young.  His  face  was  quite 
imperturbable.  In  a  subsequent  interview  the  general 
locked  himself  in  his  room  with  him.  Through  an  in- 
terpreter, and  with  every  clever  question  and  infinite 
patience  he  spent  hours  trying  to  induce  the  Indian 
to  acknowledge  his  crime.  The  culprit's  face  finally 
lost  its  impervious  look,  and  he  showed  some  agitation. 
He  gave  a  brief  account  of  the  murder,  and  the  next 
day  made  a  full  confession  before  all  the  officers.  He 
eaid  neither  of  the  white  men  was  armed  when  at- 


208  COOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

tacked.  lie  had  shot  the  old  man,  but  he  did  not  dia 
instantly,  riding  a  short  distance  before  falling  from 
his  horse.  He  then  went  to  him  and  with  Ins  stone 
mallet  beat  out  the  last  breath  left.  Before  leaving  him 
he  shot  his  body  full  of  arrows.  The  younger  man 
signalled  to  them  from  among  the  bushes,  and  tiiey 
knew  that  the  manner  in  which  lie  held  up  his  hand 
was  an  overture  of  peace.  When  he  reached  liim  the 
white  man  gave  him  his  hat  as  another  and  further 
petition  for  mercy,  but  he  shot  him  at  once,  first  with 
I  lis  gun  and  then  with  arrows.  One  of  the  latter  en- 
tering his  back,  the  dying  man  struggled  to  pull  it 
through.  Neither  man  was  scalped,  as  the  elder  was 
bald  and  the  younger  had  closely  cropped  hair. 

This  cruel  story  set  the  blood  of  the  officers  flow- 
ing hotl}'.  They  had  already  heard  from  one  of  the 
white  scouts  a  description  of  Kain-in-the-face  at  a  sun- 
dance,  when  he  had  betrayed  himself  as  the  murderer 
of  the  veterinary  surgeon,  by  describing  in  triumph  his 
beating  out  the  brains  of  the  old  man  with  his  mallet. 
After  all  this,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  each 
officer  strode  out  of  the  room  with  blazing  eyes. 

Two  Indians,  one  of  them  Iron  Horse,  had  followed 
the  cavaliy  up  from  the  Agency  and  asked  to  see  their 
comrade.  The  general  sent  again  for  Kain-in-the-face. 
He  came  into  the  room  with  clanking  chains  and  with 
the  guard  at  his  heels.  He  was  dressed  in  mourning. 
His  leggings  were  black,  and  his  sable  blanket  was  belt- 
ed by  a  band  of  white  beads.  One  black  feather  stood 
erect  on  his  head.  Iron  Horse  supposed  that  he  was 
to  be  hung  at  once,  and   that  this  would  be  the  flnal 


CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE   OF   PtAIX-IN-THE  FACE.  209 

interview.  The  elder  brother,  believing  there  was  no 
liope,  was  very  solemn.  He  removed  his  heavily-beaded, 
and  embroidered  buffalo  robe,  and  replaced  it  with  the 
plain  one  that  Rain-in-tlie-face  wore.  He  exchanged 
pipes  also,  giving  him  his  highlj-ornaraented  one  that 
he  might  afterwards  present  it  to  the  general.  These 
pipes  are  valuable,  as  the  material  of  which  the  bowls 
are  made  has  to  be  brought  from  Kansas.  Then  find- 
ing that  there  was  a  prospect  of  Eain-in-the-face  having 
his  trial  in  Washington,  he  took  off  the  medal  that  had 
l)een  given  to  his  father  by  a  former  president,  whose 
likeness  was  in  the  medallion,  and  placed  it  over  the 
neck  of  his  brother,  that  it  might  be  a  silent  argument 
in  his  favor  when  he  confronted  the  "  Great  Father." 

It  was  an  impressive  and  melancholy  scene.  Iron 
Horse  charged  his  brother  not  to  attempt  to  escape, 
saying,  that  if  he  did  get  back  to  the  reservation  he 
would  surely  be  recaptured.  He  believed  that  he  would 
be  kindly  treated  while  a  captive,  and  perhaps  the  white 
chief  would  intercede  for  him  to  obtain  his  pardon. 
After  asking  him  not  to  lose  courage,  they  smoked 
again,  and  silently  withdrew.  In  about  ten  days  Iron 
Horse  returned,  bringing  a  portion  of  his  tribe  with 
him. 

The  valley  of  tiie  Missouri  is  wide,  and  slopes  grad- 
ually back  to  the  bluffs.  Beyond  are  the  plains,  rolling 
away  for  hundreds  of  miles  to  another  river.  There 
was  a  level  stretch  of  three  miles  below  our  post  down 
the  river.  From  this  direction  we  were  accustomed  to 
watch  the  approach  of  the  bands  of  Indians  coming 
from  the  reservation.    We  could  see  their  arms  glisten- 


210  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

ing  far  down  the  valley  long  before  we  could  dis- 
tinguish  who  tliej  were,  except  witli  a  powerful  field- 
glass.  As  they  came  nearer,  the  sun  caught  a  bit  of 
gaudy  scarlet,  or  touclied  for  a  moment  one  of  the 
featliers  in  a  war-bonnet. 

A  New  York  Cliarity  Ball  could  bring  out  no  more 
antique  heirlooms,  nor  take  more  time  in  preparations 
than  the  costumes  of  Indians  prepared  for  council. 
The  war-bonnets,  shields,  and  necklaces  of  bear's  claws 
are  all  handed  down  from  far-away  grandfathers,  and 
only  aired  on  gi-and  occasions.  Every  available  bit  of 
metal  that  could  catch  the  light  reflected  and  shone  in 
the  morning  sun.  The  belts  were  covered  with  brass 
nails,  shining  with  many  an  hour's  polishing.  They 
had  many  weapons,  all  kept  in  a  brilliant  and  glisten- 
ing state.  The  tomahawk  is  one  of  the  heirlooms  of  the 
collection  of  arms.  It  is  not  like  the  ones  I  used  to 
see  at  Mackinac  as  a  child.  It  looks  more  like  a  large 
ice-pick.  The  knife,  pistol,  and  Henry  rifle  are  very 
modern,  and  are  always  kept  in  the  most  perfect  con- 
dition. Mrs.  "  Lo "  is  the  Venus  who  prepares  Mars 
for  war,  and  many  a  long  wearj^  hour  she  spends  in 
polishing  the  weapon  and  adorning  the  warrior. 

The  Indians  with  Iron  Horse  came  directly  to  head- 
quarters and  asked  for  a  council.  As  many  as  could  get 
into  the  general's  room  entered.  There  was  time,  while 
they  were  prepaVing,  to  send  for  the  ladies,  and  a  few 
of  us  were  tucked  away  on  the  lounge,  with  injunctions 
not  to  move  or  whisper,  for  ray  husband  treated  these 
Indians  with  as  much  consideration  as  if  they  had  been 
crowned  heads.     The  Indians  turned  a  surprised,  rather 


CAnURE   AND   ESCAPE   OF   RAIX-IX-TnE-FACE.  211 

scornful  glance  into  the  "ladies'  gallery,"  for  their 
women  are  always  kept  in  the  background.  In  return 
for  this  we  did  not  hesitate  to  criticise  their  toilets. 
They  were  gorgeous  in  full  dress.  Iron  Horse  wore  an 
elaborately  beaded  and  painted  buckskin  shirt,  with 
masses  of  solid  embroidery  of  porcupine  quills.  The 
sleeves  and  shoulders  were  ornamented  with  a  fringe 
of  scalp-locks  ;  some  of  the  hair,  we  saw  with  a  shudder, 
was  light  and  waving.  I  could  not  but  picture  the  lit- 
tle head,  "sunning  over  with  curls,"  from  which  it  had 
been  taken,  for  all  the  Indian  locks  I  have  ever  seen 
were  straight  and  black.  The  chief  wore  on  his  shoulders 
a  sort  of  cape,  trimmed  with  a  fringe  of  snowy  ermine; 
his  lefrcrinirs  and  moccasins  were  a  mass  of  bead-work. 
He  wore  a  cap  of  otter,  without  a  crown,  though,  for  it 
is  their  custom  to  leave  the  top  of  the  head  uncovered. 
His  hair  was  wound  round  and  round  with  strips  of 
otter  that  hung  down  his  back;  the  scalp-lock  was  also 
tightly  wound.  Three  eagle  feathers,  that  denote  tho 
number  of  warriors  killed,  were  so  fastened  to  the  lock 
that  they  stood  erect.  There  were  several  perforations 
in  each  ear  from  which  depended  bead  ear-i'ings.  He 
had  armlets  of  burnished  brass;  thrown  around  him 
was  a  beaded  blanket.  The  red  clay  pipe  had  th.o 
wooden  stem  inlaid  with  silver,  and  was  embellished 
with  the  breast  feathers  of  brilliantly  plumaged  birds. 
The  tobacco-bag,  about  two  feet  long,  had  not  an  inch 
that  was  not  decorated.  The  costume  was  simply 
superb. 

The  next  in  rank  had  an  immense  buffalo  robe  as  the 
distiniruishiuir  feature  of  his  dress.     The   inside   was 


213  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

tanned  almost  white,  and  liis  history  was  painted  on  the 
surface.  Whoever  ran  might  read,  for  it  represented 
only  two  scenes,  oft  repeated — tlie  killing  and  scalping 
of  wari'iors  and  tlie  capture  of  ponies. 

The  general's  patience  with  Indians  always  surprised 
me.  He  was  of  such  an  active  temperament  and  de- 
spatched his  own  work  so  rapidly  that  I  have  often 
wondered  how  he  contained  himself  waiting:  an  hour  or 
more  for  them  to  get  at  the  object  of  their  visit.  They 
took  their  places  according  to  rank  in  a  semicircle  about 
the  general.  The  pipe  was  filled  and  a  match  lighted  by 
one  of  their  number  of  inferior  grade,  and  then  handed 
to  Iron  Horse,  who  took  a  few  leisurely  whiifs.  Though 
we  were  so  shut  in,  the  smoke  was  not  oppressive. 
Their  tobacco  is  killikinick,  prepared  by  drying  the 
bark  of  the  ozier  and  mixing  it  with  sumach.  They 
inhale  the  smoke  and  exhale  it  from  their  nostrils. 
After  all  in  the  first  circle  had  smoked  a  little,  the  gen- 
eral included,  they  observed  the  Indian  etiquette  and 
passed  the  pipe  back  through  each  warrior's  hand  to 
the  chief.  It  was  then  relighted,  and  he  began  again. 
It  seemed  to  us  that  it  went  back  and  forth  an  endless 
number  of  times.  No  matter  how  pressing  the  emer- 
gency, every  council  begins  in  this  manner. 

Iron  Horse  tired  us  out,  but  he  was  collecting  himself 
and  rehearsing  his  speech.  We  found  afterwards  that 
it  was  prepared  in  advance,  for  during  its  recital  he 
forgot,  and  was  prompted  by  one  of  the  Indians  in  the 
outer  circle. 

When  the  pipe  was  finally  put  away,  they  asked  to 
have  Rain-in-the-face  present.     He  came  into  the  room, 


CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE   OF  RAIN-IN-TIIE-FACE.  213 

trying  to  liide  liis  pleasure  at  seeing  Lis  friends  and  his 
grief  at  ]\is  imprisonment.  In  an  instant  the  imper- 
turbable expression  settled  down  on  his  face  like  a  cur- 
tain. The  officers  present  could  scarcely  believe  their 
eyes  when  they  saw  his  brother  approach  and  kiss  him. 
Only  once  before,  among  all  the  tribes  they  had  been 
with,  had  they  seen  such  an  occurrence.  The  Indian 
kiss  is  not  demonstrative;  the  lips  are  laid  softly  on  the 
cheek,  and  no  sound  is  heard  or  motion  made.  It  was 
only  this  grave  occasion  that  induced  the  chief  to  show 
such  feeling.  Several  of  the  ranking  Indians  followed 
his  example;  then  an  old  man  among  them  stepped  in 
front  of  Ilain-in-the-face,  lifted  his  hands,  and  raising  his 
eyes  reverentially  said  a  few  words  of  prayer  to  the 
Great  Spirit  in  behalf  of  their  unfortunate  brother.  The 
prisoner  dropped  his  head  to  hide  the  look  in  his  eyes 
that  he  thought  ill  became  n  warrior  as  brave  as  ho 
really  was.  The  bitter,  revengeful  thoughts  with  Avhich 
I  had  entered  the  room  were  for  a  moment  forgotten, 
and  I  almost  wished  that  he  might  be  pardoned.  The 
vision  of  the  hearth-stones  he  had  desolated  came  back 
to  me  directly,  and  I  could  not  forget. 

Iron  Horse  began  his  speech  in  the  usual  high-pitched, 
unchangeable  key.  He  thanked  the  general  for  his  care 
of  his  brother,  and  the  whole  tenor  of  the  rest  was  re- 
peated petitions  to  ask  the  Great  Father  in  Washington 
to  spare  his  life.  He  then  slowly  took  off  his  elaborate 
buckskin  shirt  and  presented  it  to  my  husband.  He 
ended  by  making  a  singular  request,  which  was  worthy 
of  Damon  and  Pythias :  two  shy  young  braves  in  the 
outer  circle  of  the  untitled  asked  permission  through 


214  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

tlieir  chief  to  share  the  captivity  of  Rain-in-tlie-face.  I 
could  not  help  recalling  what  some  one  had  told  me  in 
the  East,  that  women  sometimes  go  to  the  State  prison 
at  Sing  Sing  and  importune  to  be  allowed  to  share  the 
imprisonment  of  their  husbands  or  brothers;  but  no  in- 
stance is  found  in  the  history  of  that  great  institution 
where  a  man  has  asked  to  divide  with  a  friend  or  rela- 
tive the  sufferings  of  his  sentence. 

Consent  was  given  to  the  comrades  to  return  to  the 
guard-house,  but  they  were  required  to  remain  in  con- 
finement as  he  did  until  they  wove  ready  to  return  to 
the  reservation.  After  all  the  ranking  Indians  had  fol- 
lowed Iron  Horse  in  speeches,  with  long,  maundering, 
slowly-delivered  sentences,  each  like  the  other,  the  pipe 
was  again  produced.  When  it  was  smoked,  the  whole 
band  filed  out  to  eat  the  presents  of  food  the  general 
had  given  them,  and  soon  afterwards  disappeared  down 
the  valley  on  their  way  liome. 

After  his  two  friends  had  left  him,  Rain-in-the-face 
occupied  a  part  of  the  guard-house  with  a  citizen  who 
had  been  caught  stealing  grain  from  the  storehouse. 
For  several  months  they  had  been  chained  together,  and 
used  to  walk  in  front  of  the  little  ]^rison  for  exercise 
and  air.  The  guard-house  was  a  poorly-built,  insecure 
wooden  building.  After  a  time  the  sentinels  became 
less  vigilant,  and  the  citizen,  with  help  from  his  friends 
outside,  who  were  working  in  the  same  way,  cut  a  hole 
in  the  wall  at  night  and  escaped.  lie  broke  the  chain 
attaching  him  to  the  Indian,  who  was  left  free  to  follow. 
We  found  afterwards  that  Rain-in-the-face  did  not  dare 
to  return  to  the  reservation,  but  made  his  way  to  the 


CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE   OF   KAIX-IN-THE-FACE.  215 

hostile  camp.  Iii  the  spring  of  IST-i  he  sent  word  from 
there  by  an  Agency  Indian  that  he  had  joined  Sitting 
Bull,  and  was  awaiting  his  revenge  for  his  imprison^ 
ment. 

As  will  be  seen  further  on,  the  stained  waters  of  the 
Little  Big  Horn,  on  June  25, 1876,  told  how  deadly  and 
fatal  that  was.  The  vengeance  of  that  incarnate  fiend 
was  concentrated  on  the  man  who  had  effected  his  capt- 
ure. It  was  found  on  the  battle-field  that  he  had  cut 
out  the  brave  heart  of  that  gallant,  loyal,  and  lovable 
man,  our  brother  Tom. 


216  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

GAKKISON    AMUSEMENTS. 

The  second  winter  at  Fort  Lincoln  was  very  ranch 
tlie  same  as  tlie  first.  We  had  rented  a  piano  at  St. 
Panl  in  the  autnnin.  It  hardly  had  a  respite  from 
morning  nntil  late  at  night.  Every  day  and  evening 
the  sonnd  of  happy  voices  \vent  tlirongh  the  house. 
Old  war- songs,  college  choruses,  and  negro  melodies, 
that  every  one  knew,  were  sung,  and  on  Sunday  our 
only  church-service  most  of  tlic  time  was  to  meet  to- 
getlier  and  sing  hymns.  In  our  little  circle  of  forty, 
many  denominations  were  represented,  but  all  knew  the 
old-time  hymns.  The  Moody  and  Sankey  book  had  soon 
found  its  M'ay  out  tliere,  and  incited  every  one  that 
could  raise  a  note  to  make  the  attempt.  We  had  for- 
gotten to  bring  a  tuner  for  the  piano,  but  the  black- 
suiith  made  a  viiry  good  one.  One  of  the  band,  who 
iiad  been  in  a  piano-house  before  enlisting,  kept  the  in- 
strument in  order.  We  had  hard  work  to  keep  it  in 
tune,  for  not  only  did  the  extreme  cold  affect  the  sound, 
but  it  had  to  endure  the  constant  drumming  of  untaught 
fingers.  Even  my  husband,  who  was  not  nervous,  used 
sometimes  to  beg  Colonel  Tom  to  stop  "feeling  about 
for  that  tune !" 

The  general  loved  music,  and  had  so  correct  an  ear 


GARRISON    AMUSEMENTS.  217 

that  he  often  sang  or  whistled  the  airs  of  an  opera  after 
hearing  thcni  once.  Music  so  charmed  liiin  tliat  when 
we  liave  hecn  in  the  States,  listening  to  an  oratorio,  the 
Thomas  orchestra,  or  a  recital  of  any  kind,  he  has  begged 
me  not  to  be  hurt  if  he  did  not  speak  during  the  render- 
ins:.  There  was  a  Swiss  soldier  in  our  res^iment  who 
had  contrived  to  bring  his  zither  with  him.  My  hus- 
band would  lie  on  the  bear-skin  rug  in  front  of  the  fire 
and  listen  with  delight  as  long  as  he  ventured  to  tax  the 
man.  lie  played  the  native  Tyrolese  airs,  which  seemed 
to  have  caught  in  them  the  sound  of  the  Alpine  horn, 
the  melody  of  the  cascade,  and  the  echo  of  the  moun- 
tain passes.  The  general  often  regretted  that  he  had 
not  had  the  opportunity  to  learn  music.  It  seemed  to 
me  that  it  was  a  great  solace  and  diversion  to  officers  if 
they  knew  some  musical  instrument  well  enough  to  en- 
joy pjtractice.  They  certainly  gave  great  pleasure  to  those 
around  them. 

If  the  ladies  had  any  accomplishment  that  gave  grati- 
fication to  others,  it  was  never  allowed  to  grow  rusty. 
Of  course,  where  there  was  so  little  to  interest,  whatever 
they  did  was  overrated.  Some  times  we  heard  of  one 
of  the  officers  of  the  Tth  matching  the  perfections  of 
our  ladies  against  those  of  another  regiment  which  he 
might  happen  to  be  visiting.  His  esjyrit  de  corps  carried 
him  so  far  that  he  would  insist  that  no  women  sang, 
played,  danced,  painted,  or  rode  as  we  did  !  We  could 
only  hope  that  we  would  never  see  the  people  to  whom 
he  had  boasted,  and  so  awaken  them  from  his  overdrawn, 
story  to  the  reality. 

I  used  to  pity  the  officers  from  the  bottom  of  njy 
10 


218  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

heart  becansG  of  the  tamciiess  ar.d  dend  cahn  of  their 
lives  in  winter.  Each  year's  service  witli  thein  made  me 
wonder  more  and  more  how  they  could  come  through 
tlie  test  of  so  much  unemployed  time,  the  really  tine 
men  they  were.  "Watts  spoke  lines  that  will  do  for  all 
time,  when  he  told  us  who  it  was  that  found  mischief 
for  idle  hands.  We  had  no  good  company  libraries, 
like  the  infantry,  because  we  had  so  long  been  without 
a  place  to  call  our  own.  Every  officer  coming  from 
leave,  brought  v/hat  books  he  could,  and  they  went  the 
rounds  until  the  worn  leaves  would  hardly  hold  to- 
gether. We  won)cn  had  many  a  simple  occupation  that 
interested  us,  but  the  men  could  not  content  themselves 
with  trifles.  If  the  young  ladies  and  I  stole  away  to  try 
to  take  a  nap  or  change  our  dress,  we  were  almost  in- 
variably called  back  by  the  lonely  men,  who  wished  to 
be  amused.  They  were  certainly  so  grateful  fo\'  the 
slightest  kindness  it  was  no  tax.  Besides,  people  can- 
not go  up  and  down  the  face  of  the  earth  together  for 
nine  years  of  hardships,  trials,  and  deprivation  without 
being  as  nearly  like  one  family  as  is  possible. 

I  used  to  dread  the  arrival  of  the  young  otEcers  who 
came  to  the  regiment  from  West  Point,  fearing  that  the 
sameness  and  inactivity  of  the  garrison  life  would  be  a 
test  to  which  their  character  would  succumb.  When 
they  came  to  pay  the  iirst  ceremonious  call  in  full  uni- 
form, we  spoke  of  commonplace  topics.  I  kept  up  a 
running  line  of  comments  to  myself,  usually  on  one  sub- 
ject :  "  I  wonder  if  you  are  likely  to  go  to  the  bad  under 
temptation  ;  I  am  sorry  for  your  mother,  having  to  give 
you  up  and  be  anxious  for  your  habits  at  the  same  time; 


GARRISON   AMUSEMENTS.  219 

I  hope  jou  don't  driiik ;  I  pray  that  you  may  have 
stamina  enough  to  resist  evil"  Our  sister  knew  that  I 
believed  so  in  matrimony  as  a  savior  of  young  officers 
that  she  used  to  teasingly  accuse  me  of  greeting  all  of 
tliem  wlien  they  arrived  with  the  same  welcome :  "  I  am 
very  glad  to  see  you ;  I  hope  that  you  are  engaged."  I 
hardly  remember  being  quite  so  abrupt  as  that  in  speak- 
ing, but  I  never  failed  to  wish  it  to  myself.  Their  fre- 
quent difficulty  was  that  they  desired  to  do  everything 
that  the  old  officers  did.  I  have  known  them  rub  and 
try  to  mar  their  shining  new  uniforms  to  have  them  look 
as  if  they  had  seen  service.  One,  especially  youthful  in 
appearance,  wondered  how  I  came  to  divine  that  the 
reason  he  wore  his  grandfather's  fob  and  seal,  and  carried 
the  gold-headed  cane  when  off  duty,  was  that  he  wished 
to  look  old  and  experienced.  I  could  not  help  praising 
tliem  when  they  went  through  the  first  few  telling  years 
of  service  and  came  off  conquerors.  I  was  sure  that  had 
I  had  the  misfortune  to  be  a  man  I  could  not  have  borne 
the  tests  to  which  I  knew  they  were  subjected. 

I  am  sure  that  we  could  not  have  been  so  contented 
ns  we  were  under  such  circumstances  had  there  not  been 
such  perfect  health  among  us  all.  It  was  a  pleasure  to 
live  among  so  many  hundred  people  and  scarcely  see 
any  one  who  was  not  perfectly  well.  Another  relief  in 
that  life  was  that  we  never  saw  crippled  or  maimed  peo- 
ple, and  there  were  no  suffering  poor. 

We  found  our  new  quarters  admirable  for  the  garri- 
son gayety.  On  Friday  nights  we  all  gathered  together 
to  dance,  or  have  private  theatricals  or  games.  During 
tlie  early  part  of  the  winter,  while  the  supply  of  eggs 


220  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

we  had  brought  from  St.  Paul  Listed,  Marj  used  to  give 
us  cake,  frozen  custard,  or  some  luxury  of  which  these 
formed  a  part.  This,  i)i  addition  to  tlie  usual  ham- 
sandwiches,  coilee,  and  venison,  made  our  refreshments. 
As  winter  advanced,  and  the  supplies  began  to  give 
out,  we  had  to  be  content  with  crullers,  coffee,  and 
sandwiches.  There  was  very  little  spirit  of  criticism, 
and  in  that  climate  one  is  always  hungry. 

Of  course  every  one  relied  on  cards  as  the  unfailing 
amusement.  Almost  without  exception  they  played 
well  aud  with  great  entliusiasm.  Every  one  struggled 
over  me,  and  I  really  worked  faithfully  to  become  an 
adept.  For  though  I  did  not  enjoy  it  ever,  it  seemed 
very  ungracious  in  me  not  to  be  able  to  take  a  hand 
when  I  was  needed.  There  must  have  been  something 
lacking  in  my  mental  organization,  for  I  could  not  learn. 
I  had  one  friend  who  was  equally  stupid.  He  certainly 
was  a  comfort  to  me.  We  became  perfectly  hardened 
to  the  gibes  of  our  friends  when  they  called  to  him, 
"  Come,  Smith,  and  try  this  new  game  ;  it  is  easy.  Why, 
even  Mrs.  Custer  learned  it !"  I  labored  on,  until  at 
the  end  of  twelve  years  of  effort  I  trumped  my  part- 
ner's ace,  and  was  formally  excused  from  ever  trying 
again. 

A  fancy-dress  party  was  always  amusing  out  there, 
for  it  was  necessary  to  exercise  great  ingenuity  in  get- 
ting up  costumes.  We  were  masked  carefully,  and  often 
the  dress  was  such  a  complete  disguise  that  a  husband 
and  wife  M'ere  kept  in  ignorance  of  each  other  until  the 
signal  for  unmasking  was  given  at  supper. 

It  was  impossible  to  conceal  our  eccentricities  living 


GARRISON   AMUSEMENTS.  221 

in  such  close  daily  association.  As  tliere  was  continual 
chaffing  and  innumerable  practical  jokes,  it  was  difficult 
to  know  at  what  moment  one's  peculiarities  were  to  be 
served  up  for  the  amusement  of  others.  At  all  events, 
when  one's  personal  traits  and  singularities  were  openly 
joked  about,  it  was  something  of  a  consolation  to  know- 
that  the  worst  to  be  said  was  directed  to  the  face  and 
not  behind  tlie  back,  as  is  the  general  rule.  There  Avas 
one  of  our  number  towards  whom  we  could  not  fire  the 
shot  and  shell  of  ridicule.  He  was  far  older  than  any 
one  at  the  post,  and  there  was  too  much  reverence  for 
his  hoary  head  to  permit  extreme  raillery.  I  confess  to 
laughing  over  some  of  liis  strange  aberrations  when  his 
3'oung  lieutenant  gave  us  an  imitation  of  their  company 
drill.  The  old  officer,  mounted  on  a  horse  as  toned 
down  as  himself,  stood  in  front  of  his  troops  and  ad- 
dressed them  as  he  would  have  done  his  supporters  in 
the  old  political  days.  They  appreciated  the  stump  elo- 
quence, but  more  keenly  the  fact  that  while  he  talked 
they  would  escape  the  tedious  evolutions  of  their  work. 
Sometimes  while  going  through  the  directions  of  the 
tactics,  the  captain  lost  his  suavity  and  called  a  halt. 
Then,  with  all  the  inflections  and  emphasis  placed  as 
carefully  as  if  he  were  flinging  the  Constitution  at  a 
crowd  of  citizens  on  the  4th  of  July,  he  harangued 
in  slightly  heated  tones,  "Men,  do  you  suppose  you  are 
men?  If  so,  act  like  men.  If  you  are  geese,  act  like 
geese."  This  would  flnish  the  self-control  of  even  the 
oldest  soldier,  and  a  great  guffaw  would  burst  out.  For 
nothing  can  be  nioi-e  ridiculous  than  a  regular  ofiicer 
j)ansiiig  to  address  his  men  in  such  a  place.     The  drill 


BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 


is  eondnctod  usnally  witliout  another  word  tlian  a,  repe- 
tition of  the  exact  language  of  the  book  of  tactics.  The 
young  lieutenant  in  his  position  at  the  rear  would  near- 
ly choke  with  laughter.  He  told  ns  how  he  rode  along 
the  line,  and  prodded  the  soldiers  in  the  back,  without 
tlie  captain  seeing  him,  to  try  and  make  them  more 
deferential.  His  short  burlesque  repetitions  of  the 
aphorisms,  philosoph_y,  and  theories  on  all  subjects,  that 
the  old  captain  delivered  daily  on  the  drill-ground,  were 
convulsing.  If  the  speeches  themselves  were  half  as 
funny  as  the  imitations,  the  n)en  would  have  been  sto- 
lidity itself  if  they  had  not  forgotten  their  discipline 
and  laughed.  My  husband  was  truly  attached  to  this 
otHcer,  and  spared  him  from  hardships  and  trying  cam- 
paigns when  he  could.  In  a  measure  he  felt  himself 
responsible  for  the  incongruous  position  the  elderly  man 
occupied  in  a  cavalry  regiment  full  of  young,  active 
men.  After  the  war,  when  the  old  officer  was  mustered 
out  of  the  Volunteer  service,  he  found  that  in  his  native 
State  the  waves  had  closed  over  him,  and  his  place  was 
lost  in  public  life.  -The  general  went  personally  to  the 
War  Departn)oi)t,  and  solicited  an  appointment  for  him 
in  the  Ilegular  Army.  Some  time  after,  he  was  sur- 
prised to  find  him  assigned  to  his  own  regiment,  doubt- 
less because  a  personal  application  gave  the  impression 
that  it  would  be  a  special  favor  to  place  him  there.  Had 
he  only  asked  for  an  infantry  appointn)ent  for  the  al- 
ready tired  out  man,  it  would  have  been  a  far  easier  life 
for  him,  but  it  had  not  occurred  to  the  general. 

Many  of  us  had   been  laughingly  rechristened,  and 
called  a  name  that  was  in  some  way  suggested  by  tri- 


GARRISON  AMUSEMENTS.  223 

fling  incidunts  ia  our  liistoiy.  The  names  were  absurd. 
One  of  the  most  delicate  and  refined  of  our  women  was 
a  superb  rider  and  had  shot  buffalo,  so  her  intimates 
spoke  of  her,  when  trying  to  provoke  repartee,  as  "  Buf- 
falo Ann."  My  sobriquet  of  "  the  old  lady  "  dated  back 
to  the  first  days  of  n)y  married  life.  When  the  gen- 
eral and  his  merry  3'oung  staff  returned  from  a  raid  in 
the  Shenandoah  Valley,  they  descried  an  old  Dutchman, 
who  did  not  care  which  side  in  the  war  succeeded,  so 
long  as  he  and  his  property  were  left  alone.  His  house 
had  been  their  head-quarters  in  a  former  raid,  and  they 
all  rode  up  there  to  halt  again.  The  old  Hans  stood  on 
his  steps  as  they  approached  and  wafted  them  awaj^,  at 
the  same  time  reiterating,  by  way  of  emphasis,  "  Gentle- 
mens,  I  have  no  objections  to  your  coming  in,  but  the 
old  lady  she  kicks  agin  it."  After  that  I  could  not  raise 
the  mildest  protest  against  any  plan  but  that  those  mis- 
chievous brothers  would  exclaim  pathetically,  and  in  a 
most  tormenting  tone,  "Wliat  a  good  time  we  might 
have  if  the  old  lady  didn't  kick  agin  it."  Sometimes 
the  mildest  and  quietest  one  of  us  all  would  be  called 
by  some  appellation  so  suggestive  of  ruffianism  and 
bloodshed  that  it  was  the  extreme  of  the  ridiculous  to 
associate  the  person  and  the  name  together.  For  in- 
stance, the  best  regulated  and  least  sensational  one 
would  find  himself  addressed  as  "Shacknasty  Bill,  or  the 
Sinewy  Slayer  of  the  Ghostly  Gulch."  Another,  always 
inclined  to  gloom,  was  given  a  rousing  slap  on  the  back 
as  his  good-morning,  and  a  hearty  "How  are  you.  Old 
Skull  and  Cross-bones?"  No  one  escaped.  I  used  to 
think  the  joking  was  carried  too  far  sometimes,  but  it 


234  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES, 

was  easy  to  go  to  extremes  when  tlie  resources  were  so 
limited  for  a  variety  in  our  life.  My  own  blood  rose  to 
luva  heat  when  I  found  people  twitting  one  another  on 
unpleasant  facts,  and  a  smile  of  ridicule  circulating.  It 
was  too  great  a  triumph  for  the  teaser  to  stir  up  wrath 
though,  and  the  life  was  a  lesson  of  constant  self-con- 
trol. Certainly  it  was  excellent  discipline,  and  calcu- 
lated to  keep  one's  self-confidence  within  bounds.  It 
was  the  same  sort  of  traininir  that  members  of  a  lar^e 
family  have,  and  they  profit  by  the  friction,  for  they 
are  rarely  so  selfish  and  exacting  as  only  children  usu- 
ally are. 


AM   INDIAN   COUNCIL.  225 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

AN     INDIAN    COTNCIL. 

The  Indians  came  several  times  from  the  reservations 
for  counsel,  but  the  occasion  that  made  the  greatest  im- 
pression upon  me  was  towards  the  spring.  They  came 
to  implore  the  general  for  food.  In  the  fall  the  steamer 
bringing  them  supplies  was  detained  in  starting.  It  had 
hardly  accomplished  half  the  required  distance  before 
the  ice  impeded  its  progress,  and  it  lay  out  in  the  chan- 
nel, frozen  in,  all  winter.  The  suffering  among  the  In- 
dians was  very  great.  Tiiey  were  compelled  to  eat  their 
dogs  and  ponies  to  keep  from  starving.  Believing  a 
personal  appeal  would  be  effectual,  they  asked  to  come 
to  our  post  for  a  council. 

The  Indian  band  brought  their  great  orator  Running 
Antelope.  He  was  intensely  dignified  and  fine-looking. 
Ilis  face  when  he  spoke  was  expressive  and  animated, 
contrary  to  all  the  precedents  of  Indian  oratory  we  had 
become  familiar  with.  As  he  stood  among  them  all  in 
the  general's  room,  he  made  an  indelible  impression  on 
my  memory.  The  Indians'  feet  are  usually  small;  some- 
times their  vanity  induces  them  to  put  on  women's  shoes. 
The  hands  are  slender  and  marvellously  soft  consider- 
ing their  life  of  exposure.  Their  speech  is  full  of  gest- 
ure, and  the  flexible  wrist  makes  their  movements  ex- 

10* 


226  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

pressive.  A  distinguished  scholar,  speaking  of  the  aid 
the  liand  is  to  an  orator,  calls  it  the  "second  face."  It 
certainly  was  so  with  Kunning  Antelope.  He  described 
the  distressing  condition  of  the  tribe  with  real  eloquence. 
While  he  spoke,  lifting  his  graceful  hands  towards 
Heaven  in  appeal,  one  of  my  husband's  birds  that  was 
uncao;ed  floated  down  and  aliirhted  on  the  venerable 
warrioi''s  head.  It  had  been  so  petted,  no  ordinary  move- 
ment startled  the  little  thing.  It  maintained  its  poise, 
spreading  its  wings  to  keep  its  balance,  as  the  Indian 
moved  his  head  in  gesture.  The  orator  saw  that  the 
faces  of  the  Indians  showed  signs  of  humor,  but  he  was 
ignorant  of  what  amused  them.  His  inquiring  eyes  saw 
no  solution  in  the  general's,  for,  fearing  to  disconcert 
him.  General  Custer  controlled  every  muscle  in  his  face. 
Finally  the  bird  whirled  up  to  his  favorite  resting-place 
DU  the  horn  of  the  buffalo  head,  and  the  warrior  under- 
stood the  nnnsual  sight  of  a  smile  from  his  people. 

His  whole  appeal  was  most  iuipi-essive,  and  touched 
the  quick  sympathies  of  my  husband.  He  was  a  sincere 
friend  of  the  reservation  Indian.  The  storehouses  at 
our  post  were  tilled  with  supplies,  and  he  promised  to 
telegraph  to  the  Great  Father  for  y)ermissiou  to  give 
them  rations  until  spring.  Meantime,  he  promised  them 
all  they  could  cat  while  thej'  awaited  at  the  post  the  an- 
•  swer  to  the  despatch.  Not  content  with  a  complaint  of 
their  present  wrongs,  Hunning  Antelope  went  off  into 
an  earnest  denunciation  of  the  agents,  calling  them  dis- 
honest. 

One  of  the  Indians,  during  the  previous  summer,  with 
fox-like  cuiming  had  lain  out  on  the  dock  all  day  ap- 


AN   INDIAN   COUNCIL.  227 

pareiitlj  sleeping,  while  lie  watched  the  steamer  luiload- 
iiig  supplies  intended  for  them.  A  mental  estimate  was 
carefully  made  of  what  came  off  the  boat,  and  compared 
as  carefully  afterwards  with  what  was  distributed.  There 
was  an  undeniable  deficit.  A  portion  that  should  have 
been  theirs  was  detained,  and  they  accused  the  agent  of 
keeping  it.  The  general  interrupted,  and  asked  the  in- 
terpreter to  say  that  the  Great  Father  selected  the  agents 
from  among  good  men  before  sending  them  out  from 
Washington.  Running  Antelope  quickly  responded, 
''  They  may  be  good  men  when  they  leave  the  Great 
Father,  but  they  get  to  bo  desperate  cheats  by  the  time 
they  reach  us."  I  shall  have  to  ask  whoever  reads,  to 
substitute  another  more  forcible  adjective,  such  as  an 
angry  man  would  use,  in  place  of  "desperate."  The 
Indian  lano-uaire  is  not  deficient  in  abusive  terms  and 
epithets. 

When  the  council  was  ended  and  the  Indians  were 
preparing  to  leave,  my  husband  asked  me  to  have  Mary 
put  everything  we  had  ready  to  eat  on  the  dining-room 
table.  The  manner  in  which  Ilunning  Antelope  folded 
his  robe  around  him  and  strode  in  a  stately  way  down 
the  long  parlor  was  worthy  of  a  Roman  emperor. 

I  had  been  so  impressed  by  his  oratory  and  lordly 
mien  that  I  could  hardly  believe  my  eyes  when  I  saw 
him  at  table,  and  descend  from  the  lofty  state  of  mind 
into  which  he  had  taken  me  to  realize  what  he  was  do- 
ing. After  gorging  himself,  he  emptied  the  plates  and 
swept  all  the  remains  from  before  the  ])laces  of  the  other 
chiefs  into  the  capacious  folds  of  his  robe.  This  he  re- 
beltcd  at  the  waist,  so  that  it  formed  a  very  good  teui- 


228  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 

porarj  luiversack.  With  an  air  signifjnng  to  "the  vic- 
tor belong  the  spoils,"  he  swept  majestically  out  of  the 
house. 

The  answer  came  next  day  from  the  Secretary  of  War 
that  the  Department  of  the  Interior  which  had  the  In- 
dians in  charge  refused  to  allow  any  army  supplies  to 
be  distributed.  They  gave  as  a  reason  that  it  would  in- 
volve complexities  in  their  relations  with  other  depart- 
ments. It  was  a  very  difficult  thing  for  the  general  to 
explain  to  the  Indians.  They  knew  that  both  army  and 
Indians  were  fed  from  the  same  source,  and  they  could 
not  comprehend  what  difference  it  could  make  when  a 
question  of  starvation  was  pending.  They  could  not  be 
told,  what  we  all  knew,  that  had  the  War  Department 
made  good  the  deficiencies  it  would  have  reflected  dis- 
credit on  the  management  of  the  Department  of  the  In- 
terior. The  chiefs  were  compelled  to  return  to  their 
reservations,  where  long  ago  all  the  game  had  been  shot 
and  their  famishing  tribe  were  many  of  them  driven  to 
join  the  hostiles.  We  were  not  surprised  that  the  war- 
riors were  discouraged  and  desperate,  and  that  the  dep- 
redations of  Sitting  Bull  on  the  settlements  increased 
with  the  new  accessions  to  his  numbers. 


BREAKING   UP   OF   THE   MISSOURI.  229 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

BREAKING   UP   OF   THE   MISSOUEI. 

The  day  of  the  final  breaking  up  of  tlic  ice  in  the 
Missouri  was  one  of  great  excitement  to  iis.  The  roar 
and  crash  of  tlie  ice-iiclds  could  be  heard  a  great  dis- 
tance. The  sound  of  the  tremendous  report  was  the 
signal  for  the  whole  garrison  to  go  out  on  the  hill  near 
the  infantry  post  and  watch  the  grand  sight.  Just 
above  us  was  a  bend  in  the  river,  and  around  this  curve 
great  floes  of  ice  rushed,  heaping  up  in  huge  masses  as 
they  swept  down  the  furious  current.  All  the  low- 
lands that  lay  between  Bismarck  and  the  river  were 
inundated,  and  the  shore  far  in  covered  with  blocks  of 
ice  that  the  force  of  the  water  had  thrown  there.  Just 
across  the  river  from  us  was  a  wretched  little  collection 
of  huts,  occupied  by  outlaws,  into  M-hich  the  soldiers 
"were  decoyed  to  drink  and  gamble.  The  law  forbid- 
ding liquor  to  be  sold  on  the  reservation  was  so  strict 
that  whiskey  venders  did  not  dare  set  foot  on  the  Gov- 
ernment land.  The  reservation  was  too  large  to  per- 
mit them  to  place  themselves  on  its  other  boundaries; 
they  would  have  been  at  such  a  distance  from  the  post 
that  it  would  not  have  been  worth  while.  Just  on  the 
water's  edge  opposite,  these  human  fiends  had  perched 
to  watch  and  entice  the  enlisted  men.     Over  their  rude 


230  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 

cabins  tliej  had  painted  elaborate  and  romantically  ex- 
pressed signs.  In  the  midst  of  bleak  surroundings  rose 
an  untidy  canvas -covered  cabin,  called"  "My  Lady's 
Bower,"  or  over  the  door  of  a  rough  log-hnt  was  a  sign 
of  the  "Dow  Drop  Inn  "  (Do  drop  in). 

These  shanties  were  placed  on  a  little  rise  of  ground, 
with  a  precautionary  thought  of  the  usual  spring  floods. 
The  day  of  the  iirst  ice-breaking  we  saw  the  water  rise 
to  such  a  height  that  cabin  after  cabin  was  abandoned. 
The  occupants  dragged  their  property  as  best  they  could 
to  the  little  rise  where  one  or  two,  more  cautious  than 
the  rest,  had  built.  On  this  narrow  neck  of  land  hud- 
dled together  the  whole  of  the  group,  in  desperate  peril. 
Xo  one  on  our  side  of  the  river  could  help  them,  for 
the  water  was  the  maddest  of  whirlpools,  while  on  the 
other  side  the  overflow  had  made  a  great  lake,  cutting 
them  off  from  Bismarck.  As  we  watched  them  scrara- 
blins:  on  the  little  knoll,  like  drownini;  men  clinfirino: 
to  the  upturned  keel  of  a  boat,  we  suffered  real  dis- 
tress at  our  powerlessness  to  help  them.  The  company 
commanders,  remembering  how  they  had  been  the  cause 
of  the  demoralization  of  some  of  their  best  soldiers, 
o[)enly  avowed  at  first  their  relief  that  the  whole 
wretched  lot  were  about  to  drown  ;  l)ut  as  the  peril  in. 
creased,  not  one  of  the  officers'  hearts  remained  unsoft- 
cued.  They  forgot  what  an  utterly  abandoned,  lawless 
company  it  was,  and  wished  that  some  means  might 
be  found  by  which  they  could  be  saved. 

We  women  had  discovered  through  the  field-glasses 
a  few  of  our  own  sex  among  them,  and  were  alarmed 
at  their  danger;  for  no  matter  v/hat  they  were,  the 


BREAKING   UP   OF   TUE   MISSOURI.  231 

helplessness  of  women  at  such  a  time  makes  one  forget 
everything,  save  that  their  lives  hang  in  the  balance. 
At  last  one  of  them  stepped  into  the  only  small  boat 
they  had  been  able  to  retain,  and  standing  bravely  at 
the  side  of  the  one  man  at  the  bow,  they  were  swept 
down  the  river  out  of  sight  among  the  gorge  of  ice- 
blocks  and  never  again  heard  from.  It  was  too  ex- 
hausting "watching  these  imperilled  beings,  knowing 
how  incapable  we  wove  of  helping  them,  and  we  went 
back  to  our  quarters  to  spend  hours  of  suspense.  We 
conld  not  set  ourselves  about  doing  anything  while  the 
lives  of  human  beings  so  near  lis  were  in  jeopardy-. 
As  day  began  to  close,  word  came  for  our  relief  that 
the  water  Avas  subsiding;  not,  alas,  until  some  of  them 
liad  been  borne  to  their  last  home.  Those  that  were 
left  waded  back  to  their  huts,  and,  unheeding  the  warn- 
ing of  that  fearful  day,  began  again  their  same  miserable 
existence. 

Of  all  our  happy  days,  the  happiest  had  now  come  to 
US  at  Fort  Lincoln.  I  never  knew  more  united  married 
])eoplo  than  those  of  our  regiment.  It  Mill  be  easily 
understood  that  in  the  close  companionship  involved 
in  the  intimate  relationships  of  that  life,  either  uncon- 
trollable hatred  or  increasing  affection  must  ensue.  If 
a  desperate  attack  of  incompatibility  set  in  out  there, 
the  climate,  fine  as  it  was,  simply  liad  to  disagree  with 
the  wife,  for  it  Nvas  next  to  madness  for  both  of  them 
if  they  did  not  escape  from  a  life  where  almost  every 
liour  is  spent  with  each  other.  The  wife  had  the  priv- 
ilege of  becoming  the  comrade  of  her  husband  in  that 
isolated  existence,  and  the  officers  seemed  to  feel  that 


232  BOOTS   AND   SADDLES. 

every  ainnsemeiit  was  lieiglitened  if  shared  by  the  other 
sex.  That  perpetual  intimacy  was  a  crucial  test  of  the 
genuineness  of  the  affection.  My  husband  used  to  quote 
a  line  or  two  from  one  of  Mrs.  Stowe's  books  that  we 
had  read  together.  Tlie  new  iiusband  is  asked  wliy  he 
knows  that  he  loves  his  wife:  "Because  she  never  tires 
nie ;  she  never  makes  me  nervous."  He  believed  that 
if  husbands  and  wives  bore  that  proof  successfully  as 
time  advanced,  they  might  count  on  a  happy  future. 

Life  grew  more  enjoyable  every  day  as  we  realized 
the  blessings  of  our  home.  When  the  winter  was  finally 
gone  there  was  not  an  hour  that  we  would  not  have 
recalled.  I  have  seen  my  husband  with  all  the  abandon 
of  a  boy  tlirow  himself  on  a  rug  in  front  of  the  fire 
and  enumerate  his  blessings  with  real  gratitude.  Speak- 
ing of  his  regiment  first,  his  district  (for  he  then  had 
five  posts  under  his  command),  the  hunting-,  his  doo-s 
and  horses,  and  his  own  room,  which  M'as  an  unceasing 
delight,  he  used  to  declare  to  me  that  lie  would  not 
exchange  places  with  any  one— not  even  a  friend  in 
civil  life  who  stood  at  the  head  of  his  profession  as  a 
journalist,  who  had  wealtli  and  youth,  and  who  lived 
in  almost  princely  luxury.  My  husband  used  to  tell 
me  that  he  believed  he  was  the  happiest  man  on  earth, 
and  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  he  was.  For  with  all 
the  vicissitudes  of  those  twelve  eventful  years,  I  never 
knew  him  to  have  an  hour's  depression.  The  presence 
of  so  many  of  his  family  about  him  was  an  unceasing 
pleasure.  There  was  an  abiding  fondness  between  his 
brother.  Colonel  Tom,  and  himself.  This  brother  was 
scarcely  more  than  a  lad  when  he  ioincd  us.     The  ^en- 


BREAKING   UP   OF  THE   MISSOURI.  233 

eral  said  to  some  Eastern  friends  when  lie  was  in  the 
States  the  last  time,  "To  prove  to  you  how  I  value  and 
admire  my  brother  as  a  soldier,  I  think  that  he  should 
be  the  general  and  I  the  captain." 

Colonel  Tom  always  lived  with  us,  and  the  brothers 
played  incessant  jokes  on  each  other.  Both  of  them 
honored  and  liked  women  extremely.  Colonel  Tom 
used  to  pay  visits  of  an  unconscionable  length  to  ladies 
of  the  garrison,  and  no  amount  of  teasing  on  his  broth- 
er's part  would  induce  him  to  shorten  them.  lie  never 
knew,  when  he  started  to  go  home  from  these  visits,  but 
that  he  would  find  on  the  young  lady's  door-mat  his 
trunk,  portmanteau,  and  satchel  —  this  as  a  little  hint 
from  the  general  that  he  was  overtaxing  the  lady's  pa- 
tience. I  used  to  think  my  husband  too  severe  with 
liis  brother,  for  in  his  anxiety  not  to  show  favoritism 
he  noticed  the  smallest  misdemeanor.  If,  in  visiting 
with  the  young  ladies  in  our  parlor,  he  overstayed  the 
hour  lie  was  due  at  the  stables  or  drill,  the  general's 
eye  noticed  it,  and  perhaps  overlooked  others  in  the 
room  who  were  erring  in  the  same  manner.  I  knew 
that  a  reprimand  would  be  sent  from  the  adjutant's 
office  in  the  morning  if  I  did  not  invent  some  way  to 
warn  the  offender,  so  I  learned  the  bugle-call  for  stables, 
and  hovering  around  Colonel  Tom,  hummed  it  in  his 
ear,  which  the  voice  of  the  charmer  had  dulled  to  the 
trumpet-call.  When  the  sound  penetrated,  he  would 
make  a  plunge  for  his  hat  and  belt,  and  tear  out  of  the 
house,  thus  escaping  reproof. 

When  spring  came  again,  it  is  impossible  to  express 
the  joy  I  felt  that  there  was  to  be  no  summer  campaign ; 


234  COOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

and  for  the  first  time  in  many  years  I  saw  tiie  grass 
grow  without  a  shudder.  The  general  began  the  im- 
provement of  the  post  \vitli  fresh  enei-gj,  and  from 
the  drill-ground  came  the  click  of  the  horses'  hoofs  and 
the  note  of  the  bugles  repeating  the  commands  of  the 
officers.  As  soon  as  it  was  warm  enough,  several  charm- 
ing girls  came  out  from  the  States  to  our  garrison  to 
visit  us.  Thev  gave  eveiw  one  pleasure,  and  elfectually 
turned  the  heads  of  the  young  otlicei's. 

We  had  supposed  that  when  travelling  from  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico  almost  to  the  border  of  the  Bi'itish  posses- 
sions, we  could  safely  call  ourselves  "West;"  but  we 
found  that  there  was  a  post  fifteen  hundred  miles  beyond 
us,  on  the  Missouri  Kiver.  The  steamers  were  constant- 
]}'  taking  officers  and  their  families  from  Bismarck  into 
Montana.  Sometimes  the  delay  of  the  boats  in  starting 
gave  us  the  privilege  of  entertaining  them.  I  remem- 
ber going  down  to  bid  good-bye  to  a  family  who  iiad 
gone  on  board  a  steamer  at  our  landing.  The  officer 
was  returning  from  an  infantrj^  recruiting  detail  in  the 
States,  lie  had  eight  children  and  a  dog.  These,  with 
a  lieutenant's  pay,  constituted  his  riches.  lie  disap- 
peared into  a  state-room  and  brought  out  the  new  baby, 
exhibiting  it  with  as  raucli  pride  as  if  it  had  been  the 
first-born!  Tliey  told  me  afterwards  that  during  all 
that  slow,  wearisome  journey  of  fifteen  hundred  miles,  on 
a  boat  that  needs  be  seen  to  be  appreciated,  the  mother 
was  placid  and  happy.  There  were  no  guards  around 
the  deck,  so  she  tied  the  children  separately  to  the  dif- 
ferent articles  of  stationary  furniture,  and  let  them  play 
cut  to  the  limits  of  their  tethers. 


BREAKING   UP   OF   THE   MISSOURI.  235 

Almost  our  only  exercise  on  summer  evenings  was 
walking  on  the  outskirts  of  the  gai'rison  surrounded  by 
the  dogs.  It  was  dangerous  to  go  far,  but  we  could  walk 
with  safety  in  the  direction  of  the  huts  of  the  Indian 
scouts.  Their  life  always  interested  us,  and  by  degrees 
they  became  so  accustomed  to  our  presenc3  that  they 
went  on  with  all  their  occupations  without  heeding  us. 

There  was  a  variety  of  articles  among  the  litter  tossed 
down  in  front  of  these  Indian  quarters;  lariates, saddles, 
and  worn-out  robes  were  heaped  about  an  arrangement 
for  conveying  their  property  from  place  to  place.  The 
construction  was  simple,  and  rendered  wheels  unneces- 
sary. About  midway  on  two  long  saplings,  placed  a 
short  distance  apart,  is  a  foundation  of  leather  thongs. 
Upon  this  the  effects  belonging  to  an  Indian  family  are 
lashed.  Two  pole  ends  are  attached  to  either  side  of  a 
rude  harness  on  the  pony,  while  the  other  two  drag  on 
the  ground.  In  following  an  Indian  ti-ail,  the  indenta- 
tion made  by  the  poles,  as  they  are  pulled  over  the 
ground,  traces  the  course  of  travel  unmistakably. 

Some  of  their  boats  lay  upturned  about  the  door.  They 
were  perfectly  round,  like  a  great  bowl,  and  composed 
of  a  wicker  frame  over  M'hich  buffalo  hide  was  tightly 
drawn.  The  primitive  shape  and  construction  dates 
back  to  the  ancient  Egyptians,  and  these  boats  were 
called  coracles  in  olden  times.  They  seemed  barely 
large  enough  to  hold  two  Indians,  who  were  obliged  to 
crouch  down  as  they  paddled  their  way  with  short,  awk- 
ward oars  through  the  rapid  current  of  the  Missouri. 

Bloody  Knife  was  r.aturally  mournful ;  his  face  still 
looked  sad  when  he  put  on  the  presents  given  him.    lie 


236  BOOTS   AKD   SADDLES. 

was  a  perfect  child  about  gifts,  and  the  general  studied 
to  bring  him  something  from  the  East  that  no  other 
Indian  had. 

He  had  proved  himself  such  an  invaluable  scout 
to  the  general  that  they  often  had  long  interviews. 
Seated  on  the  grass,  the  dogs  lying  about  them,  they 
talked  over  portions  of  the  country  that  the  general 
had  never  seen,  the  scout  drawing  excellent  maps  in 
the  sand  with  a  pointed  stick.  He  was  sometimes 
petulant,  often  moody,  and  it  required  the  utmost  pa- 
tience on  my  husband's  part  to  submit  to  his  humors; 
but  his  fidelity  and  cleverness  made  it  worth  while  to 
yield  to  his  tempers. 

I  was  always  interested  in  the  one  pretty  squaw 
among  them,  called  Et-nah-wah-ruchta,  which  means 
Medicine  Mother.  Her  husband  was  young,  and  she 
was  devoted  to  him.  I  have  seen  him  lounofino;  on  the 
floor  of  the  hut  while  she  made  his  toilet,  combing  and 
plaiting  his  hair,  cutting  and  oiling  the  bangs  which 
were  trimmed  to  cover  his  forehead,  and  plucking  the 
few  scattered  hairs  from  his  chin — for  they  do  not  con- 
sider it  an  honor  to  have  a  suspicion  of  a  beard.  Slie 
strapped  on  his  leggings,  buckled  his  belt,  and  finally 
lighted  his  pipe.  Once  the  war  bonnet  of  her  lord  had 
to  be  rearranged.  He  deigned  to  put  it  on  her  head, 
readjusted  the  eagle  feathers,  and  then  gave  it  to  her  to 
fasten  them  in  securely.  The  faithful  slave  even  used 
to  accompany  him  to  his  bath.  Indians  do  bathe — at 
long  intervals.  I  was  not  ambitious  to  know  if  she 
actually  performed  the  ablutions.  However,  I  have 
seen  him,  at  a  distance,  running  along  the  river  bank  on 


BREAKING   UP   OF   THE   MlSSOLTtl.  237 

Ill's  return,  his  wife  waving  a  blanket  behind  him  to 
keep  off  the  mosquitoes  ! 

If  the  Indians  kill  any  game,  they  return  home,  or- 
der tlie  squaws  to  take  tlie  ponies  and  bring  back  what 
they  have  killed,  and  then  throw  themselves  down  to 
sleep  among  the  sprawling  Indian  babies,  tailless  dogs, 
and  general  filth.  The  squaws  do  all  the  labor,  and 
every  skin  is  tanned  by  their  busy  fingers.  I  never 
knew  but  one  Indian  who  worked.  lie  was  an  object 
of  interest  to  me,  though  he  kept  himself  within  the 
gloom  of  the  cabin,  and  skulked  around  the  fire  when 
he  cooked.  This  was  tlie  occupation  forced  upon  him 
by  the  others.  lie  had  lacked  the  courage  to  endure 
the  torture  of  the  sun-dance ;  for  when  strips  of  flexible 
wood  had  been  drawn  through  tlie  gashes  in  his  back, 
and  he  was  hung  up  by  these,  the  poor  creature  had 
fainted.  On  reviving  he  begged  to  be  cut  down, 
and  ever  after  was  an  object  of  scorn.  He  was  con- 
demned to  Avear  squaw's  clothing  from  that  time  on. 
They  mocked  and  taunted  him,  and  he  led  as  separate  an 
existence  as  if  lie  were  in  a  desert  alone.  Tiie  squaws 
disdained  to  notice  him,  cxcej)t  to  heap  work  upon  his 
already  burdened  shoulders. 

Once  my  husband  and  I,  in  walking,  came  suddenly 
upon  a  queer  little  mound,  that  we  concluded  we  would 
observe  at  a  distance.  An  Indian  was  seen  carrying  buck- 
ets and  creeping  with. difficulty  into  the  small  aperture. 
It  was  about  six  feet  in  diameter,  and  proved  to  be  a 
kind  of  steam-bath,  which  tliey  consider  great  medicine. 
A  hole  is  first  dug  in  the  ground  and  filled  with  stones ; 
a  tire  is  kindled  upon  them  long  before,  and  they  arc 


238  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

heated  red-hot.  The  round  framework  of  sapluigs  over 
these  is  covered  with  layer  upon  Inyer  of  blankets  and 
robes,  so  that*  no  air  can  penetrate.  The  Indians,  al- 
most stripped  of  their  clothing,  crouch  round  them, 
while  the  one  acting  as  servant  brings  water  to  pour  on 
the  heated  rocks.  The  steam  has  no  escape,  and  the  In- 
dians are  thoroughly  roasted.  While  wc  were  looking 
at  this  curious  bath-house  a  small  Indian  boy  crept  out 
from  under  the  edges  of  the  blankets,  and  ashamed  to 
have  given  in  before  the  rest,  drew  his  almost  parboiled 
little  body  into  a  hiding-place.  Ever  ambitious,  like 
small  boys  of  all  nationalities,  he  had  at  first  believed 
experience  better  than  hearsay. 

We  went  one  day  into  a  tepee  that  was  placed  by  it- 
self to  see  an  Indian  who  was  only  slightly  ill.  His 
father  and  friends  were  talking  to  him  of  his  death  as  a 
certaintj^,  and  making  all  the  plans  in  advance.  They 
even  took  his  measure  for  a  coffin,  assuring  him  that 
they  would  honor  him  by  putting  him  in  a  box  in  imita- 
tion of  the  white  man.  The  general  used  to  listen  won- 
deringly  when  the}'  referred  to  their  dead  in  the  speeches 
in  council.  It  was  always  in  some  roundabout  v^'ay,  never 
directly. 

The  Indians  all  seemed  a  melancholy  people.  They 
sometimes  ask  embarrassing  questions.  Perhaps,  when 
some  young  girl  accompanied  us,  they  spoke  to  my  hus- 
band in  the  sign  language,  in  which  he  was  versed. 
Once  they  inquired  if  the  young  lady  was  his  other 
wife.  The  blush  of  the  girl  so  amused  us  that  our  lauijh 
rang  out  among  them,  and  seemed  to  be  a  sound  they 
knew  nothing  of.     They  sat  on  the  ground  for  hours, 


BREAKLNG   UP   OF   THE   MISSOURI.  239 

gambling  for  iron,  brass  and  silver  rings,  but  always 
gluin  and  taciturn.  The  tallest  Indian  of  them  all,  Long 
Soldier,  grew  to  be  very  cunning  when  he  learned  what 
a  curiosity  he  was.  He  would  crouch  down  at  our  ap- 
proach, and  only  at  the  sight  of  a  coin  as  a  "  tip  "  would 
he  draw  up  his  seven  feet  of  height. 

The  Ree  scouts  entertained  their  chief,  Star-of -the- 
North,  during  the  summer.  We  Avcre  all  asked  to  the 
feast,  and  all  formally  presented  to  the  distinguished 
stranger,  who  could  not  comprehend  why  he  was  ex- 
pected to  shake  hands  with  women.  After  going  through 
what  he  found  was  courtesy  among  the  whites,  he  offered 
us  a  place  around  the  circle.  Taking  a  bone  from  the 
meat  broiling  before  the  fire  he  offered  it  to  the  general. 
My  husband,  after  getting  some  salt,  had  the  courage  to 
eat  it.  It  was  want  of  tact  on  my  part  to  decline,  but 
my  heart  failed  me  when  I  recognized  the  master  of 
ceremonies  for  the  evening.  As  he  proffered  me  some 
meat,  I  found  him  to  be  the  ferocious-looking  savage 
who  had  killed  his  enemy  from  another  tribe  and  eaten 
his  heart  warm. 


240  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

CTJEIOUS    CHARACTERS    AND    EXCURSIONISTS    AMONG  US. 

I  WISH  tliat  I  could  recall  more  about  the  cnrious 
characters  among  lis.  Most  of  them  had  some  strange 
history  in  the  States  that  had  been  the  cause  of  their 
seeking  the  wild  life  of  the  frontier.  The  one  whose 
past  we  would  liave  liked  best  to  know  was  a  man  most 
valued  by  my  husband.  All  the  important  scoutings 
and  most  difficult  missions  where  secrecy  was  required 
were  intrusted  to  him.  We  had  no  certain  knowledge 
whether  or  not  he  had  any  family  or  friends  elsewhere, 
for  he  never  spoke  of  them.  He  acknowledged  once,  in 
a  brief  moment  of  confidence,  tiiat  he  was  a  gentleman 
by  birth.  Startled,  perhaps,  by  the  look  of  curiosity 
that  even  a  friend's  face  showed,  he  turned  the  conver- 
sation, and  said,  "  Oh,  but  what's  the  use  to  refer  to  it 
now  ?"  AVe  did  not  even  know  whether  Charley  lleyn- 
olds  was  his  real  name  or  one  that  he  had  assumed. 
Soon  after  we  reached  Dakota  the  general  began  to  em- 
ploy him  as  a  scout.  He  remained  with  him  much  of 
the  time,  until  he  fell  in  the  battle  of  the  Little  Big 
Horn.  My  husband  had  such  genuine  admiration  for 
him  that  I  soon  learned  to  listen  to  everything  pertam- 
ing  to  his  life  with  marked  interest.  He  was  so  shy  that 
he  hardly  raised  his  eyes  when  I  extended  my  hand  at 


CURIOUS   CHARACTERS  AND   EXCURSIONISTS.  241 

the  general's  introduction.  He  did  not  assume  the  pict- 
uresque dress,  long  hair,  and  belt  full  of  weapons  that 
are  characteristic  of  the  scout.  His  manner  was  perfect- 
ly simple  and  straightforward,  and  he  could  not  be  in- 
duced to  talk  of  himself.  He  had  large,  dark-blue  eyes, 
and  a  frank  face.  Year  after  year  he  braved  the  awful 
winters  of  Dakota  alone.  I  have  known  him  start  out 
from  Fort  Lincoln  when  even  our  officers,  accustomed  as 
tliey  were  to  hardships,  were  forbidden  to  go.  He  had 
been  the  best  shot  and  most  successful  hunter  in  the  ter- 
ritory for  fifteen  years.  When  I  watched  the  scouts 
starting  off  on  their  missions,  I  invariably  thanked  Heav- 
eu  that  I  was  born  a  woman,  and  consequently  no  deed 
of  valor  would  ever  be  expected  from  me.  I  felt, 
though,  that  were  I  compelled  to  be  brave,  I  would  far 
rather  go  into  battle  with  the  inspiration  of  the  trumpet- 
call  and  the  clash  of  arms,  than  go  off  alone  and  take 
my  life  in  my  hands  as  did  the  scouts. 

The  year  that  tlie  regiment  explored  the  Black  Hillt^, 
Charley  Key  nolds  undertook  to  carrj^  despatches  through 
to  Fort  Laramie,  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  distant. 
He  had  only  his  compass  to  guide  him,  for  there  was  not 
even  a  trail.  The  country  was  infested  with  Indians, 
and  he  could  only  travel  at  night.  During  the  day  he 
hid  his  horse  as  well  as  he  could  in  the  underbrush,  and 
lay  down  in  the  long  grass.  In  spite  of  these  precautions 
he  was  sometimes  so  exposed  that  he  could  hear  the 
voices  of  Indians  passing  near.  He  often  crossed  Indi- 
an trails  on  his  journey.  The  last  nights  of  his  march 
he  w:is  compelled  to  walk,  as  his  horse  was  exhausted, 
and  lie  found  no  water  for  hours.     The   frontiersmen 

1.1 


243  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 

frequently  dig  in  the  beds  of  dried-up  streams  and  finii 
water,  bat  this  resource  failed.  His  lips  became  so 
parched  and  his  throat  so  swollen  that  he  could  not  close 
his  month.  In  this  condition  he  reached  Fort  Laramie 
and  delivered  his  despatches.  It  was  from  the  people  of 
that  post  that  the  general  heard  of  his  narrow  escajx*. 
He  came  quietly  back  to  his  post  at  Fort  Lincoln,  an({ 
only  confessed  to  his  dangers  when  closely  questioned 
by  the  general  long  afterwards.  When  I  think  how 
gloriously  be  fell,  fighting  for  his  country,  with  all  the 
valor  and  fidelity  of  one  of  her  ofiiccrs,  my  eyes  fill  with 
tears;  for  he  lies  there  on  that  battle-field,  unwept,  un- 
honored,  and  unsung.  Had  he  worn  all  the  insignia  of 
the  high  rank  and  the  decorations  of  an  adoring  coun- 
try, he  could  not  have  led  a  braver  life  or  died  a  more 
heroic  death ;  and  yet  he  is  chronicled  as  "  only  a  scout.'^ 

We  were  inundated  with  excursionists  during  the 
summer.  In  order  to  induce  in}migration  the  railroads 
had  reduced  the  rates.  One  of  the  incidents  of  the  trip 
was  to  cross  from  Bismarck  to  Fort  Lincoln.  Some- 
times I  had  assistance  in  entertaining,  but  of tener  I  was 
left  to  perform  this  duty  alone.  I  have  been  sitting 
with  the  general  and  four  of  his  family,  when  we  would 
see  the  post -ambulance  unloading  at  the  door.  In  an 
instant  I  would  find  myself  standing  alone  in  the  room, 
the  vanishing  forms  of  all  the  family  disappearing 
through  the  doors,  and  even  out  of  the  windows  open- 
ino-  upon  the  piazza.  In  vain  I  entreated  them  to  re- 
turn ;  a  smothered  laugh  at  my  indignation  was  all  the 
response. 

It  was  sometimes  tiresome  to  receive  large  groups  of 


CURIOUS  CHARACTERS  AND  EXCURSIONISTS.  243 

people,  who  wanted  to  know  impossible  things  about  the 
country,  and  if  it  was  a  good  soil  for  wheat.  I  only 
remember  one  party  who  taxed  my  patience  to  the  ut- 
termost. They  cared  nothing  about  Dakota  as  an  agri- 
cultural territory,  but  had  come  on  purpose  to  sec  the 
general.  To  satisfy  them,  I  sent  the  servants  and  order- 
ly to  find  him,  but  all  returned  with  the  same  answer — 
he  was  nowhere  to  be  seen.  I  walked  about  the  garri- 
son with  them,  explaining  our  post  as  best  I  could  ;  the 
band  came  to  play  for  them  ;  and  finally,  as  a  last  resort, 
I  opened  the  general's  rootn  to  show  them  his  hunting 
mementos.  It  was  all  of  no  avail.  One  very  decided 
woman  said,  "  This  is  all  very  interesting,  but  we  came 
to  see  General  Custer,  and  we  do  not  intend  to  leave 
until  we  do."  Finally  I  said,  in  desperation,  he  is  much 
interested  in  improvements  for  the  post,  and  spends 
much  tim^e  out-of-doors.  "Very  well,"  said  the  chief 
spokesman,  "  we  will  go  all  around  the  garrison  and  try 
to  find  him."  As  soon  as  I  had  bowed  them  awaj-,  I  ran 
out  to  Mary  to  ask  where  the  general  really  was.  I  had 
known  from  the  first,  by  a  twinkle  in  her  eye,  that  she 
was  helping  him  to  escape.  "Law,  Miss  Libbie,  the 
giniral  most  got  sunstroke  hidin'  in  the  chicken-coop." 
The  coop  was  still  unroofed,  and  my  husband  had  been 
superintending  the  building  of  a  double  wall  to  keep 
out  the  cold  in  winter ;  and  there  I  found  him,  really  ill, 
having  beaten  his  hasty  retreat  without  a  hat,  and  re- 
mained in  the  broiling  sun  rather  than  submit  to  the 
odious  ordeal  of  being  on  exhibition. 

Our  house  was  so  full  of  company,  and  we  had  so 
little  time  for  each  other,  that  in  order  to  visit  together 


244  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 

'>vo  were  obliged  to  take  onr  horses,  and  ride  up  and 
down  the  valley  as  far  as  it  was  safe  to  go.  Even  then 
my  hnsband's  eyes  scanned  the  horizon  so  searchingly, 
liardly  turning  liis  face  away  from  where  the  Indians 
were  wont  to  dash,  that  it  intimidated  me  to  see  such 
watchfulness.  If  we  went  even  a  few  paces  beyond  our 
usual  beat,  which  was  bounded  by  the  grazing  stock  and 
the  guard,  and  the  busy  chatter  at  his  side  ceased,  my 
liusband  would  look  quickly  to  see  the  cause  of  the  un- 
usual silence.  My  lip  quivered  with  fear,  and  I  was 
wont  to  wink  busily  and  swallow  to  keep  back  a  tear  of 
terror,  of  which  I  was  always  ashamed,  and  against  which 
I  made  constant  battle.  The  moment  our  horses'  heads 
were  turned  towards  home  the  endless  flow  of  laughter 
and  talk  began  again.  When  we  could  not  ride,  we 
went  out  on  the  bluffs,  just  on  the  edge  of  the  garrison, 
for  an  uninterrupted  hour.  We  were  often  out  for 
hours,  my  husband  shooting  at  a  mark,  while  I  was 
equally  busy  taking  accurate  aim  at  the  ever-present 
mosquito,  our  constant  companion  in  all  our  good  times. 
As  the  soldiers  and  citizens  all  knew  the  general's 
love  of  pets,  we  had  constant  presents.  Many  of  them 
I  would  have  gladly  declined,  but  notwithstanding  a 
badger,  porcupine,  raccoon,  prairie-dog,  and  wild-turkey, 
all  served  their  brief  time  as  members  of  our  family. 
They  were  comparatively  harmless,  and  I  had  only  the 
inconvenience  to  encounter.  When  a  ferocious  wild- 
cat was  brought  in,  with  a  triumphant  air,  by  the  donor, 
and  presented  with  a  great  flourish,  I  was  inclined  to 
mutiny.  My  husband  made  allowance  for  my  dread  of 
the  untamed  creature,  and  decided  to  send  him  into  the 


CURIOUS   CHARACTERS  AND   EXCURSIONISTS.  245 

States,  as  a  present  to  one  of  tlie  zoological  gardens;  for 
in  its  way  it  was  a  treasure.  While  it  remained  with  us 
it  was  kept  in  the  cellar.  Mary  used  to  make  many  re- 
treats, tumbling  up  the  stairs,  when  the  cat  flew  at  her 
the  length  of  its  chain.  She  was  startled  so  often  that 
at  last  she  joined  with  me  in  requesting  its  removal  as 
soon  as  convenient.  The  general  regretted  giving  it  up? 
but  Keevan  was  called  to  chloroform  and  box  it  for  the 
journey.  Colonel  Tom  printed  some  facetious  ^vords 
on  the  slats  of  the  cover — something  like  "  Do  not  fon- 
dle." They  were  somewhat  superfluous,  for  no  one 
could  approach  the  box,  after  the  effects  of  the  chloro- 
form liad  passed  away,  without  encountering  the  fiery- 
red  eyes,  and  such  scratchings  and  spittings  and  mad 
plunges  as  suggested  the  propriety  of  keeping  one's 
distance.  Some  detention  kept  the  freight -train  at  a 
station  over  Sunday  ;  the  box  with  the  wild-cat  was  put 
in  the  baggage-room.  The  violence  of  the  animal  as  it 
leaped  and  tore  at  the  cover  loosened  the  slats,  and 
it  escaped  into  the  room.  The  freight  agent  spent 
a  wretched  day !  Chloroform  was  again  resorted  to, 
and  it  was  deemed  a  good  riddance  when  the  animal 
was  sent  off.  AVhen  we  received  a  letter  of  thanks 
from  the  Scientific  Board  for  so  splendid  a  specimen,  I 
was  relieved  to  know  that  the  M'ild-cat  was  at  last 
■where  it  could  no  longer  create  a  reign  of  terror. 

At  one  time  the  general  tamed  a  tiny  field-mouse,  and 
kept  it  in  a  large,  empty  inkstand  on  his  desk.  It  grew 
very  fond  of  him,  and  ran  over  his  head  and  shoulders, 
and  even  tlirougli  his  hair.  Women  are  not  responsible 
for  their  fear  of  mice ;  they  are  born  so.     I  had  fortu- 


246  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 

nately  only  to  keep  away  from  the  desk  when  the  little 
creature  was  free,  for  it  was  contented  to  consider  that 
its  domain.  The  general,  thinking  at  last  that  it  was 
cruel  to  detain  the  little  thing  in-doors  when  it  belonged 
l)y  nature  to  the  fields,  took  it  out  and  left  it  on  the 
plain.  The  kindness  was  of  no  earthly  nse ;  like  the 
oft-quoted  prisoner  of  the  Bastile,  it  was  back  again  at 
the  steps  in  no  time,  and  preferred  captivity  to  freedom. 


EELIGIOUS  EXERCISES.  247 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

RELIGIOUS    SEKVICES.. — LEAVE    OF    ABSENCE. 

We  liad  clergymen  and  missionaries  of  different  de- 
nominations as  our  guests  during  the  summer  months. 
Among  tliera  was  a  man  from  the  East,  who  was  full  of 
zeal  and  indifferent  to  the  opinion  of  others  as  long  as 
he  felt  that  he  was  right.  He  began  to  brave  public 
opinion  on  his  way  to  Fort  Lincoln.  The  cars  had 
stopped  for  some  time  at  a  station  where  there  was  a 
town  ;  the  missionary,  wishing  to  improve  every  oppor- 
tunity for  doing  good,  went  out  on  the  platform  and 
began  a  sermon.  Before  long  he  had  a  crowd  of  people 
around  him,  listening  with  curiosity.  There  were  laugh- 
ter and  sneers  when  the  quavering  voice  of  the  old  man 
started  a  hymn  that  was  familiar  throughout  the  length 
and  breadth  of  the  land.  No  one  joined.  Our  brother 
Tom  and  a  friend,  sitting  in  the  car,  but  knowing  noth- 
ing of  the  mission  of  the  man,  realized  his  unsupported 
position,  and  quickly  went  to  him.  Standing  on  either 
side  of  him,  they  joined  their  fresh  young  voices  in  the 
hymn.  Before  long  one  after  the  other  of  the  crowd 
joined  in  the  music,  inspired  by  tlie  independence  of 
the  example.  The  missionary  returned  then  with  the 
officers,  and  came  to  our  house,  where  my  husband  asked 
liiin  to  remain  indefinitelj'.     Wo  found  him  almost  a 


248  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 

inonoinaiiiac  on  the  subject  of  converting  the  Indians, 
and  had  not  the  general  prevented  him  from  risking 
his  life,  he  would  have  gone  out  alone  among  the  war- 
like tribes. 

While  he  was  waiting  for  an  opportunity  to  go  far- 
ther west,  he  beoi:2:ed  to  bes'in  meetino^s  amono'  the 
soldiers,  and  said  that  in  order  to  do  more  good  and 
get  at  the  hearts  of  tliose  he  would  help,  he  must  live 
among  them.  For  this  purpose  he  left  ns,  and  went 
down  to  share  the  rations  of  tlie  enlisted  men.  The 
general  had  a  room  in  a  vacant  barrack  put  in  order,  and 
tlicre  the  old  man  began  his  work.  Every  night  the 
garrison  echoed  with  the  voices  of  hundreds  of  soldiers 
singing  liymns.  The  simple,  unaifected  goodness  of 
the  missionary  caused  them  to  believe  in  him,  and  he 
found  his  way  to  many  a  heart  that  beat  under  the 
army  blue.  My  husband  felt  thankful  to  have  some 
work  go  on  among  the  enlisted  men.  We  often  talked 
of  their  condition,  and  he  felt  that  some  of  the  ener- 
gies of  good  people  in  behalf  of  foreign  missions  might 
well  be  expended  npon  our  army  on  the  frontier. 
Among  liis  plans  was  the  building  of  an  assembly  rooin 
at  the  post,  especially  for  the  soldiers:  a  place  where 
they  could  have  their  own  entertainments,  and  where 
the  papers,  magazines,  and  general  library  miglit  be 
kept.  lie  regretted  constantly  that  there  was  no  reg- 
ular place  where  there  could  be  services  for  the  men 
when  the  itinerant  clergyman  came.  The  service  was 
usually  held  in  our  parlor,  but  it  was  only  large  enough 
for  the  officers  and  their  families.  In  the  following 
letter  he  touches  upon  the  subject  of  bettering  the  con- 


LEAVE   OF   ABSENCE.  243 

dition  of  tlie   enlisted  men,  and  bears  tribute  to  the 
good  man  avIio  forgot  himself  in  his  love  for  mankind. 

"Fort  Lincoln,  Dakota,  Septemher  17, 187o. 
"Dr.  Newman: 

"Dear  Sir, — I  take  the  liberty  of  addressing  you  a  few  lines  la 
regard  to  the  Christian  work  in  which  Mr.  Matchett  has  been  en- 
gaged at  this  post.  He  came  here  under  the  auspices  of  the  Indian 
Bureau,  intending  to  labor  among  the  tribes  of  the  Upper  Missouri 
River,  but  owing  to  some  obstacles  encountered  at  points  above  this 
on  the  river,  he  returned  here  some  weeks  ago  to  await  furtber  in- 
structions from  those  under  whom  he  is  acting. 

"In  the  mean  time  he  has  devoted  himself  to  missionary  work 
among  the  soldiers  —  a  c'.ass,  by-the-way,  whose  moral  welfare,  at 
least  on  the  frontier,  is  as  sadly  neglected  as  that  of  any  of  our 
aboriginal  tribes.  Mr.  Matchett  enters  into  his  work  with  great 
earnestness  and  zeal.  He  has  impressed  all  with  whom  he  has  been 
associated  with  his  unselfishness,  his  honesty  of  purpose,  and  his 
great  desire  to  do  good. 

"It  is  but  due  to  him  and  the  holy  cause  he  represents,  and  a 
pleasure  to  me,  to  testify  to  the  success  which  has  crowned  his 
labors,  particularly  among  the  soldiers  of  this  command.  If  our 
large  posts  on  the  remote  frontier,  which  are  situated  far  from 
church  and  Church  influences,  had  chaplains  who  were  as  faithful 
Christians  as  I  believe  Mr.  Matchett  to  be,  and  who,  like  him,  are 
willing  to  labor  faithfully  among  the  enlisted  men,  the  moral  stand- 
ard, now  necessarily  so  low  among  that  neglected  class,  would  be 
elevated  far  above  its  present  level,  and  great  results  Avould  follow. 

"  Hoping  you  will  receive  these  lines  in  the  spirit  which  prompts 
me  to  send  them,  I  am  truly  yours, 

"G.  A.  Custer,  Brevet  Major-General  U.  S.  A." 

In  the  autnmn  we  went  into  the  States,  and  spent 
most  of  the  winter  delightfully  in  New  York.  We 
went  out  a  great  deal.  Of  course  we  were  compelled 
to  dress  very  plainly,  and  my  husband  made  great  sport 
of  his  only  citizen  overcoat — an  ulster.     He  declared  that 

11-" 


250  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 

it  belonged  so  to  the  past  that  he  was  the  only  man  be- 
side the  car-drivers  that  wore  one.  It  did  not  disturb 
him  in  the  least;  neither  did  going  in  the  horse -cars 
to  receptions  and  dinners.  He  nsed  laughingly  to  say, 
"  Our  coachman  wears  our  livery,  Libbie,"  when  the  car- 
driver  had  on  an  army  overcoat.  No  one  so  perfectly 
independent  as  he  was  could  fail  to  enjoy  everything. 

Colonel  Tom  and  one  of  the  oldest  friends  we  had  in 
tlie  7tli  were  with  us  part  of  the  time,  and  we  had 
many  enjoyable  hours  together.  The  theatre  was  our 
unfailing  delight.  They  were  all  desirous  that  I  should 
see  the  military  play  of  "  Ours,"  which  was  then  so  ad- 
mirably put  on  the  stage  at  Wallack's,  but  dreaded  the 
effect  it  would  have  on  me.  At  last  one  of  them  said 
that  it  was  too  finely  represented  for  me  to  miss,  and 
I  heard  them  say  to  each  other,  "  We  must  take  '  the 
old  lady,'  though  it  will  break  her  heart  and  she  will 
cry."  It  ended  in  my  going.  AVhen  we  reached  the 
part  in  the  play  where  the  farewell  comes,  and  the 
sword  is  buckled  on  the  warrior  by  the  trembling  hands 
of  the  wife,  I  could  not  endure  it.  Too  often  had  the 
reality  of  such  suffering  been  my  own.  The  three  men 
were  crying  like  children,  and  only  too  willing  to  take 
me  out  into  tlie  fresh  air. 

My  husband  spent  many  hours  with  Mr.  Barrett  in 
his  dressing-room  at  the  theatre,  during  the  long  wait 
of  Cassius  in  the  play  of  "Julius  Csesar."  There  were 
forty  nights  that  these  friends  sat  side  by  side,  until 
the  call-boy  summoned  the  actor  to  the  footlights.  The 
general  listened  every  evening  with  unflagging  interest 
to  the  actino;  of  his  friend. 


LEAVE   OF  ABSEXCE.  251 

Every  one  seemed  to  vie  with  every  one  else  in  show- 
ing appreciation  of  my  husband  during  that  winter. 
He  dined  often  with  men  wlio  learned  to  draw  him 
out  in  tallv  of  his  Phains  life.  While  in  the  midst  of 
some  story,  the  butler  would  pass  him  a  dish  that  ho 
especially  liked.  The  host  at  once  directed  the  man 
to  pass  on,  and  told  my  husband  that  he  could  not 
spare  time  for  him  to  take  a  second  helping  while  they 
were  impatient  for  the  rest  of  the  tale.  After  going 
hungry  once  or  twice,  the  general  learned  to  dine  with 
me  before  he  left  the  hotel,  so  that  he  might  be  free 
to  give  himself  up  to  others. 

He  repeated  a  story  to  me  about  Ole  Bull,  who  was 
asked  to  dinner  and  requested  to  bring  his  violin.  He 
accepted  for  himself,  but  sent  word  that  his  violin  did 
not  dine.  My  husband  made  a  personal  application  of 
the  story,  and  threatened,  playfully,  to  send  word  that 
his  Indian  stories  did  not  dine,  hoping  thereby  to  secure 
to  himself  the  privilege  of  satisfying  his  hunger  unmo- 
lested. At  the  Century  Club  he  received  from  distin- 
guished men  the  most  cordial  congratulations  on  his 
essay  into  the  literary  field.  They  urged  him  with  many 
an  encouraging  word  to  continue  the  work.  Some  of 
tlie  authors  he  met  there  were  double  his  age,  and  he 
received  each  word  they  said  with  deep  gratitude.  My 
husband  knew  how  I  valued  every  expression  of  appre- 
ciation of  him,  and  he  used  to  awaken  me,  when  he  re- 
turned, to  tell  me  what  was  said.  He  never  failed  to 
preface  every  such  hesitating  and  reluctant  repetition 
by  exacting  promises  of  secrecy.  He  feared  that  in  my 
wifely  pride   I  might  repeat  what  be  told  me,  and  it 


253  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 

would  look  like  conceit  on  liis  part.  I  knew  that  he 
did  not  tell  nie  the  half,  for  "vvhen  the  tears  of  delight 
dropped  from  my  eyes  at  the  acknowledgment  and 
commendation  of  others  his  voice  ceased.  I  felt  that 
nine  years  was  a  long  time  out  of  a  young  life  to  live 
in  the  wilderness,  away  from  the  sound  of  approving 
voices,  and  the  association  of  men  whose  very  presence 
incites  to  new  effort.  In  February  we  had  to  say  good- 
bye to  all  this  pleasurable  life.  Our  friends  asked  us 
why  we  went  so  soon.  In  army  life  it  is  perfectly  nat- 
ural to  speak  of  one's  financial  condition,  and  it  did  not 
occur  to  lis  that  civilians  do  not  do  the  same.  I  do  not 
wonder  now  that  they  opened  their  eyes  with  well-bred 
astonishment  wdien  we  said  we  were  obliged  to  go  be- 
cause we  had  used  all  tlie  money  we  had  saved  for 
leave  of  absence. 


A  WDsTER'S  JOURNEY  ACROSS  THE  PLAINS.  253 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

A   winter's   journey    ACROSS   TUE   PLAINS. 

When  wc  readied  St.  Paul  the  prospect  before  H3 
was  dismal,  as  the  trains  were  not  to  begin  running  un- 
til April,  at  the  soonest.  The  railroad  ofHcials,  mind- 
ful of  what  the  general  had  done  for  them  in  protect- 
ing their  advance  woi'kers  in  the  building  of  the  road, 
came  and  offered  to  open  the  route.  Sending  us  through 
on  a  special  train  was  a  great  undertaking,  and  we  had 
to  wait  some  time  for  the  preparations  to  be  completed. 
One  of  the  officers  of  the  road  took  an  engine  out 
some  distance  to  investigate,  and  it  looked  discouraging 
enough  when  he  sprang  down  from  the  cab  on  his  re- 
turn in  a  complete  coating  of  ice. 

The  train  on  which  we  finally  started  was  an  immense 
one,  and  certainly  a  curiosity.  There  were  two  snow- 
ploughs  and  three  enormous  engines;  freight-cars  with 
coal  supplies  and  baggage;  several  cattle -cars,  with 
stock  belonging  to  the  Black  Hills  miners  who  filled 
the  passenger -coaches.  There  was  an  eating-house, 
looming  up  above  everything,  built  on  a  fiat  car.  In 
this  car  the  forty  employes  of  the  road,  who  were  taken 
to  shovel  snow,  etc.,  were  fed.  There  were  several  day- 
coaches,  with  army  recruits  and  a  few  passengers,  and 
last  of  all  the  paymaster's  car,  which  n)y  husband  and 


25-1  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

I  occupied.  This  liad  a  kitchen  and  a  sitting-room.  At 
lirst  everytliing  went  smoothly.  The  cook  on  our  car 
gave  us  excellent  things  to  eat,  and  we  slept  soundly. 
It  was  intensely  cold,  but  the  little  stove  in  the  sitting- 
room  was  kept  tilled  constantly.  Sometimes  we  came 
to  drifts,  and  the  train  would  stop  with  a  violent  jerk, 
start  again,  and  once  more  come  to  a  stand-still,  with 
such  force  that  the  dishes  would  fall  from  the  table. 
The  train -men  were  ordered  out,  and  after  energetic 
work  by  the  stalwart  arms  the  track  was  again  clear  and 
we  went  on.  One  day  we  seemed  to  be  creeping;  the 
engines  whistled,  and  we  shot  on  tinel3^  The  speed  was 
checked  so  suddenly  that  the  little  stove  fairly  danced, 
and  our  belongings  flew  through  the  car  from  end  to 
end.  After  this  there  was  an  exodus  from  the  cars; 
every  one  went  to  inquire  as  to  the  ominous  stop.  Be- 
fore our  train  there  seemed  to  be  a  perfect  wall  of  ice; 
we  had  come  to  a  gully  which  was  almost  tilled  with 
drifts.  The  cars  were  all  backed  down  some  distance 
and  detached;  the  snow-ploughs  and  engines  having 
thus  full  sweep,  all  the  steam  possible  was  put  on, 
and  they  began  what  they  called  "  bucking  the  drifts." 
This  did  a  little  good  at  tirst,  and  we  made  some  prog- 
ress through  the  gully.  After  one  tremendous  dash, 
however,  the  ploughs  and  one  engine  were  so  deeply 
embedded  that  they  could  not  be  withdrawn.  The  em- 
ployes dug  and  shovelled  until  they  were  exhausted. 
The  Black  Hills  miners  relieved  them  as  long  as  they 
could  endure  it ;  then  the  officers  and  recruits  worked 
until  they  could  do  no  more.  The  impenetrable  bank 
of  snow  was  the  accumulation  of  the  whole  winter,  first 


A  WINTER'S  JOURNEY  ACROSS  THE  PLAINS.  255 

snowing,  then  freezing,  nntil  there  were  successive  lay- 
ers of  ice  and  snow.  It  was  tlie  most  dispiriting  and 
forlorn  situation. 

Night  was  descending,  and  my  husband,  after  rest- 
lessly going  in  and  out  to  the  next  car,  showed  ine  that 
he  had  some  perplexity  on  his  mind.  He  described  to 
me  the  discomfort  of  the  officers  and  Bismarck  citizens 
in  the  other  coach  in  not  having  any  place  to  sleep. 
His  meaning  penetrated  at  last,  and  I  said,  "  You  are 
waiting  for  me  to  invito  them  all  to  room  with  us  ?" 
His  "exactly"  assured  me  it  was  precisely  what  he  in- 
tended me  to  do.  So  he  hurried  out  to  give  them  my 
compliments  and  the  invitation.  Tlie  officers  are  gen- 
erally prepared  for  emergencies,  and  they  brought  in 
tlieir  blankets;  the  citizens  left  themselves  to  the  gen- 
eral's planning.  In  order  to  make  the  car-blankets  go 
further,  he  made  two  of  the  folding-beds  into  one 
broad  one.  Two  little  berths  on  each  side,  and  rolls 
of  bedding  on  the  floor,  left  only  room  for  the  stove, 
always  heated  to  the  last  degree.  I  was  invited  to 
take  the  farthest  place  towards  the  wall,  in  the  large 
bed;  then  came  my  husband.  After  that  I  burrowed 
ray  head  in  my  pillow,  and  the  servant  blew  out  some 
of  the  candles  and  brought  in  our  guests.  It  is  un- 
necessary for  me  to  say  that  I  did  not  see  the  order 
in  which  they  appeared.  The  audible  sleeping  in  our 
bed,  however,  through  the  long  nights  that  followed, 
convinced  me  that  the  general  had  assigned  those  places 
to  the  oldest,  fattest,  and  ranking  civilians.  Every 
morning  I  awoke  to  liud  the  room  empty  and  all  the 
beds  folded  away.    The  general  brought  me  a  tin  basin 


256  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 

"with  icc-w.iter,  and  Lel23ed  mc  to  make  a  quick  toilet; 
our  eleven  visitors  waited  in  the  other  coach,  to  return 
to  breakfast  with  ns  in  the  same  room.  Every  one  made 
the  best  of  the  situation,  and  my  husband  was  as  rollick- 
ing as  ever.  Though  I  tried  to  conceal  it,  I  soon  lost 
heart  entirely,  and  it  cost  mc  great  effort  to  join  with 
the  rest  in  conversation. 

The  days  seemed  to  stretch  on  endlessly ;  the  snow 
was  heaped  up  about  us  and  falling  steadily.  All  we 
could  see  was  the  trackless  waste  of  white  on  every  side. 
The  wind  whistled  and  moaned  around  the  cars,  and 
great  gusts  rocked  our  frail  little  refuge  from  side  to 
side.  The  snow  that  had  begun  to  fall  with  a  few 
scattered  flakes  now  came  down  more  thickly.  I  made 
the  best  effort  I  could  to  be  brave,  and  deceived  them  as 
to  my  real  terrors — I  had  no  other  idea  than  that  we  must 
die  there.  We  tried  to  be  merry  at  our  meals,  and  made 
light  of  the  deficiencies  that  occurred  each  time  we  sat 
down.  The  increase  at  the  table  quickly  diminished  our 
stores,  and  I  knew  by  the  careful  manner  in  which  the 
wood  was  husbanded  that  it  was  nearly  exhausted.  The 
general,  always  cool  and  never  daunted  by  anything, 
was  even  more  blithe,  to  keep  me  from  knowing  that 
there  was  anything  alarming  in  the  situation.  If  I  could 
liave  worked  as  the  men  did,  even  though  it  was  at  the 
hopeless  snow-drifts,  the  time  would  not  have  seemed  so 
long.  Of  course  I  bad  needle-work,  but  at  such  a  time 
any  industry  that  admits  of  thinking  is  of  little  use  as  a 
distraction.  During  those  anxious  days  it  used  to  seem 
strange  to  hear  a  dinner-bell  through  the  air,  muffled 
with   snow.      For  an  instant  I  was  deluded  into  the 


A  WINTER'S  JOURNEY  ACROSS  THE   PLAINS.  257 

tliuught  that  by  some  strange  iiccromaiicv  wo  luid  been 
spirited  on  to  a  station,  and  that  this  was  the  clang  of 
the  eating-house  belh  It  was  only  the  call  from  the  car 
where  tlie  employes  were  fed.  The  lowing  of  the  cat- 
tle and  howling  of  our  dogs  in  the  forward  cars  were 
tlie  only  other  sounds  we  heard.  Finally  the  situation 
hecame  desperate,  and  with  all  their  efforts  the  officers 
could  no  longer  conceal  from  me  their  concern  for  our 
safety. 

Search  was  made  throughout  all  the  train  to  find  if 
there  w'as  a  man  who  understood  anything  about  teleg- 
raphy, for  among  the  fittings  stowed  away  in  the  car  a 
tiny  battery  had  been  found,  with  a  pocket-relay.  A 
man  was  finally  discovered  who  knew  something  of  oper- 
ating, and  it  was  decided  to  cut  the  main  w^ire.  Then 
the  wires  of  the  pocket-relay  were  carried  out  of  our 
car  and  fastened  to  either  end  of  the  cut  wire  outside, 
so  making  an  unbroken  circuit  between  us  and  our  Lin- 
coln friends,  besides  uniting  us  with  Fargo  station.  In 
a  little  while  the  general  had  an  answer  from  Colonel" 
Tom,  most  characteristic  :  '•  Shall  I  come  out  for  you  ? 
You  say  nothing  about  the  old  lady  ;  is  she  with  yon  ?" 
The  "old  lady"  begged  the  pi'ivilege  of  framing  the 
reply.  I  regretted  that  the  telegram  could  not  be  un- 
derscored— a  woman's  only  way  of  emphasizing — for  I 
emphatically  forbade  him  to  come.  On  this  occasion  I 
dared  to  assume  a  show  of  authority.  The  stories  of 
the  risk  and  suffering  of  our  mail-carriers  durin^:  the 
two  previous  winters  were  too  fresh  in  my  memory  for 
me  to  consent  that  Colonel  Tom  should  encounter  so 
much  for  our  sake. 


258  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

After  that  we  kept  the  wires  busy,  talking  with  our 
friends  and  devising  plans  for  our  relief.  "We  only  suc- 
ceeded in  suppressing  our  headlong  brother  temporarily. 
Against  our  direct  refusal  he  made  all  his  preparations, 
and  only  telegraphed,  when  it  was  too  late  to  receive  an 
answer,  that  he  was  leaving  garrison.  Then  our  situa- 
tion was  forgotten  in  our  solicitude  about  him.  The 
time  seemed  to  move  on  leaden  wings,  and  yet  it  was  in 
reality  not  long.  lie  went  to  Bismarck,  and  looked  up 
the  best  stage-driver  in  all  the  territor}-,  and  hired  him. 
This  driver  was  cool,  intrepid,  and  inured  to  every  peril. 
At  an  old  stage-station  along  the  route  he  found  relays 
of  mules  that  belonged  to  the  mail-sleigh. 

At  last  a  great  whoop  and  yell,  such  as  was  peculiar 
to  the  Ousters,  was  answered  by  the  general,  and  made 
me  aware  for  the  first  time  that  Colonel  Tom  was  out- 
side. I  scolded  him  for  coming  before  I  thanked  him, 
but  he  made  light  of  the  danger  and  hurried  us  to  get 
ready,  fearing  a  coming  blizzard.  His  arms  were  full 
of  wraps,  and  his  pockets  crowded  with  mufflers  and 
wraps  the  ladies  had  sent  out  to  me.  We  did  ourselves 
up  in  everything  we  had,  while  the  three  hounds  were 
being  placed  in  the  sleigh.  The  drifts  were  too  deep  to 
drive  near  the  cars,  so  my  husband  carried  me  over  the 
enow  and  deposited  me  in  the  straw  with  the  dogs. 
They  were  such  strangers  they  growled  at  being  crowd- 
ed. Then  the  two  brothers  followed,  and  thus  packed  in 
we  began  that  terrible  ride,  amid  the  cheers  of  those 
we  were  leaving.  It  was  understood  that  we  were  to 
send  back  help  to  those  we  left. 

The  suspense  and  alarm  in  the  car  had  been  great. 


A  WINTER'S  JOURNEY  ACROSS   THE   PLAINS.  259 

but  that  journey  through  the  drifts  was  simply  terrible. 
I  tried  to  be  courageous,  and  did  manage  to  keep  still ; 
but  every  time  we  plunged  into  what  appeared  to  be  a 
bottomless  white  abyss,  I  believed  that  we  were  to  be 
buried  there.  And  so  we  would  have  been,  I  firmly  be- 
lieve, bad  it  not  been  for  the  experience  and  tenacity 
of  will  shown  by  the  old  driver.  He  had  a  peculiar  yell 
that  he  reserved  for  supreme  moments,  and  that  always 
incited  the  floundering  mules  to  new  efforts.  The  sleigh 
was  covered,  but  I  could  look  out  in  front  and  see  the 
plucky  creatures  scrambling  up  a  bank  after  they  had 
extricated  us  from  the  great  drift  at  the  bottom  of  the 
gully.  If  there  had  been  a  tree  to  guide  us,  or  had  it 
been  daytime,  it  would  not  have  seemed  so  hopeless  a 
journey.  The  moon  was  waning,  and  the  clouds  ob- 
scured it  entirely  from  time  to  time.  There  was  noth- 
ing to  serve  as  guide-posts  except  the  telegraph-poles. 
Sometimes  we  had  to  leave  them  to  find  a  road  where 
the  sleigh  could  be  pulled  through,  and  I  believed  we 
never  would  reach  them  again.  Divide  after  divide 
stretched  before  us,  like  the  illimitable  waves  of  a  great 
white  sea.  Tlie  snow  never  ceased  falling,  and  I  knew 
too  much  of  the  Dakota  blizzard  not  to  fear  hourly  that 
it  would  settle  into  that  driving,  blinding,  whirling  at- 
mosphere through  which  no  eyes  can  penetrate  and  no 
foot  progress.  It  is  fortunate  that  such  liours  of  sus- 
pense come  to  an  end  before  one  is  driven  distracted. 

When  at  last  I  saw  the  light  shining* out  of  our  door 
at  Fort  Lincoln  I  could  not  speak  for  joy  and  gratitude 
at  our  release  from  such  peril.  Our  friends  gathered 
about  us  around  the  great  log-fire  in  the  general's  room. 


2G0  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

No  liglit  ever  seemed  so  briglit,  no  haven  ever  so  blessed, 
as  onr  own  fireside.  Tlie  train  remained  in  tlie  spot 
where  we  had  left  it  until  the  sun  of  the  next  spring 
melted  down  the  great  ice  banks  and  set  free  the  buried 
engines.  All  the  help  that  Bismarck  could  give  was 
sent  out  at  once,  and  even  the  few  cattle  that  survived 
were  at  last  driven  over  that  long  distance,  and  shelter 
found  for  them  in  the  town. 

Hardly  had  we  arrived  before  a  despatch  came  recall- 
ing the  general  to  the  East.  I  had  no  thought  but  that 
I  would  be  allowed  to  accompany  him,  and  went  at  once 
to  repack  my  things.  My  husband  found  me  thus  em- 
ployed, and  took  my  breath  away  by  telling  me  he  could 
not  endure  the  anxiety  of  having  me  go  through  such 
peril  again.  In  vain  I  pleaded,  and  asked  him  to  remem- 
ber that  I  had  summoned  sufficient  self-control  not  to 
utter  a  word  about  my  fears;  I  promised  more  courage 
the  next  time.     It  was  of  no  avail,  I  had  to  submit. 

'Not  the  shadow  of  an  anxiety,  nor  the  faintest  sign 
of  dread  of  the  coming  journey  over  the  snow  again 
came  into  his  face.  lie  left  me  with  the  same  words 
with  which  he  always  comforted  me :  "  Be  sure,  Libbie, 
it's  all  for  the  best;  you  know  we  always  find  it  so  in 
the  end."  With  these  farewell  words  he  stepped  into 
the  sleigh — which  he  knew  well  might  be  his  tomb. 

It  is  not  possible  for  me  to  speak  in  detail  of  the  days 
that  followed.  Life  seemed  insupportable  until  I  re- 
ceived a  despatfli  saying  that  my  husband  had  again 
passed  safely  over  that  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles  of 
country  where  every  hour  life  is  in  jeopardy. 


OUR  LIFE'S   LAST   CHAPTER.  261 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

OUR    LIFE'S    LAST   CIIAPTEE. 

OuE  women's  hearts  fell  when  the  fiat  went  forth 
tliat  there  was  to  be  a  summer  campaign,  witli  probably 
actual  fighting  with  Indians. 

Sitting  Bull  refused  to  malce  a  treaty  with  the  Gov- 
ernment, and  would  not  come  in  to  live  on  a  reserva- 
tion. Besides  his  constant  attacks  on  the  white  set- 
tlers, driving  back  even  the  most  adventurous,  he  was 
incessantly  invading  and  stealing  from  the  land  assigned 
to  the  peaceable  Crows.  They  appealed  for  hclj:)  to  tlie 
Government  that  had  promised  to  shield  them. 

The  preparations  for  the  expedition  were  completed 
before  my  husband  returned  from  the  East,  whither  lie 
had  been  ordered.  The  troops  had  been  sent  out  of 
barracks  into  a  camp  that  was  established  a  short  dis- 
tance down  the  valley.  As  soon  as  the  general  i-eturned 
we  left  home  and  went  into  camp. 

The  morning  for  the  start  came  orily  too  soon.  My 
husband  was  to  take  Sister  Margaret  and  me  out  for  the 
first  day's  march,  so  I  rode  beside  him  out  of  camp.  The 
column  that  followed  seemed  unending.  The  grass  was 
not  then  suitable  for  grazing,  and  as  the  route  of  travel 
was  through  a  barren  country,  immense  quantities  of 
forage  had  to  be  transported.  The  wagons  themselves 
seemed  to  stretch  out  interminably.     There  were  pack- 


362  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

mules,  the  ponies  already  laden,  and  cavalry,  artillery, 
and  infantry  followed,  the  cavalry  being  in  advance  of 
all.  The  number  of  men,  citizens,  employes,  Indian 
scouts,  and  soldiers  was  about  twelve  hundred.  There 
were  nearly  seventeen  hundred  animals  in  all. 

As  we  rode  at  the  head  of  the  column,  we  were  the 
first  to  enter  the  confines  of  the  garrison.  About  the 
Indian  quarters,  which  we  were  obliged  to  pass,  stood 
the  squaws,  the  old  men,  and  the  children  singing,  or 
rather  moaning,  a  minor  tune  that  has  been  uttered  on 
the  going  out  of  Indian  warriors  since  time  immemo- 
rial. Some  of  the  squaws  crouched  on  the  ground,  too 
burdened,  with  their  trouble  to  Jiold  up  their  heads; 
others  restrained  the  restless  children  who,  discerning 
their  fathers,  sought  to  follow  them. 

The  Indian  scouts  themselves  beat  their  drums  and 
kept  up  their  peculiar  monotonous  tune,  which  is  weird 
and  melancholy  beyond  description.  Their  war-song  is 
misnamed  when  called  music.  It  is  more  of  a  lament 
or  a  dirge  than  an  inspiration  to  activit3\  This  inton- 
ing they  kept  lip  for  miles  along  the  road.  After  we 
had  passed  the  Indian  quarters  we  came  near  Laundress 
Row,  and  there  my  heart  entirely  failed  me.  The  wives 
and  children  of  the  soldiers  lined  the  road.  Mothers, 
with  streaming  eyes,  held  their  little  ones  out  at  arm's- 
length  for  one  last  look  at  the  departing  father.  The 
toddlers  among  the  children,  unnoticed  by  their  elders, 
had  made  a  mimic  column  of  their  own.  With  their 
handkerchiefs  tied  to  sticks  in  lieu  of  flags,  and  beating 
old  tin  pans  for  drums,  they  strode  lustily  back  and  forth 
in  imitation  of  the  advancing  soldiers.    They  were  fort- 


OUK   LIFE'S   LAST   CHAPTEK.  2G3 

unately  too  young  to  realize  why  the  mothers  wailed 
ont  their  farewells. 

Unfettered  b}'  conventional  restrictions,  and  indiffer- 
ent to  the  opinion  of  others,  the  grief  of  these  women 
was  audible,  and  was  accompanied  by  desponding  gest- 
ures, dictated  by  their  bursting  hearts  and  expressions 
of  their  abandoned  grief. 

It  was  a  relief  to  escape  from  them  and  enter  the 
garrison,  and  3'et,  when  our  band  struck  up  "  The  Girl 
I  Left  Behind  Me,"  the  most  despairing  hour  seemed  to 
have  come.  All  the  sad-faced  v/ives  of  the  officers  who 
had  forced  themselves  to  their  doors  to  try  and  wave  a 
courageous  farewell,  and  smile  bravely  to  keep  the  ones 
they  loved  from  knowing  the  anguish  of  their  breaking 
hearts,  gave  up  the  struggle  at  the  sound  of  the  music. 
The  first  notes  made  them  disappear  to  fight  out  alone 
their  trouble,  and  seek  to  place  their  hands  in  that  of 
their  Heavenly  Father,  who,  at  such  supreme  hours,  was 
their  never-failing  solace. 

From  the  hour  of  breaking  camp,  before  the  sun  was 
up,  a  mist  had  enveloped  everything.  Soon  the  bright 
sun  began  to  penetrate  this  veil  and  dispel  the  haze,  and 
a  scene  of  wonder  and  beauty  appeared.  The  cavalry 
and  infantry  in  the  order  named,  the  scouts,  pack-mules, 
and  artillerj'',  and  behind  all  the  long  line  of  white-cov- 
ered wagons,  made  a  column  altogether  some  two  miles 
in  lenirth.  As  the  sun  broke  throuo-li  the  mist  a  mirage 
appeared,  which  took  up  about  half  of  the  line  of  cav- 
alry, and  thenceforth  for  a  little  distance  it  marched, 
equally  plain  to  the  sight  on  tlie  earth  and  in  the  sky. 
The  future  of  the  heroic  band,  whose  days  were  even 


261  BOOTS  AND   SADDLES. 

then  numbered,  seemed  to  be  revealed,  and  already  there 
seemed  a  premonition  in  the  supernatural  translation  as 
their  forms  were  reflected  from  the  opaque  mist  of  the 
early  dawn. 

The  san,  mounting  higher  and  higlier  as  we  advanced, 
took  every  little  bit  of  burnislied  steel  on  the  arms  and 
equipments  aloug  the  line  of  horsemen,  and  turned  them 
into  glittering  flashes  of  radiating  light.  The  3-ellow, 
indicative  of  cavalry,  outlined  the  accoutrements,  the 
trappings  of  the  saddle,  and  sometimes  a  narrow  thread 
of  that  effective  tint  followed  the  outlines  even  up  to 
the  head-stall  of  the  bridle.  At  every  bend  of  the  road, 
as  the  column  wound  its  way  round  and  round  the  low 
hills,  my  husband  glanced  back  to  admire  his  men,  and 
could  not  refrain  from  constantly  calling  my  attention  to 
their  grand  appearance. 

The  soldiers,  inured  to  many  years  of  hardship,  were 
the  perfection  of  physical  manhood.  Their  brawny 
limbs  and  lithe,  well- poised  bodies  gave  proof  of  the 
training  their  out-door  life  had  given.  Their  resolute 
faces,  brave  and  confident,  inspired  one  with  a  feeling 
that  they  were  going  out  aware  of  the  momentous  hours 
awaiting  them,  but  inwardly  assured  of  their  capabilit-y 
to  meet  them. 

The  general  could  scarcely  restrain  his  recurring  joy 
at  being  again  with  his  regiment,  from  wliich  he  had 
feared  he  might  be  separated  by  being  detained  on  other 
duty.  His  buoj^ant  spirits  at  the  prospect  of  the  activity 
and  field -life  that  he  so  loved  made  him  like  a  boy. 
He  had  made  every  plan  to  have  me  join  him  later  on. 
when  they  should  have  reached  the  Yellowstone. 


OUR   LIFE'S   LAST   CHAPTER.  2G5 

The  steamers  with  supplies  would  be  obliged  to  leave 
or.r  post  and  follow  the  Missouri  up  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Yellowstone,  and  from  thence  on  to  the  point  on  that 
river  where  the  regiment  was  to  make  its  first  lialt  to 
renew  the  rations  and  forage.  He  was  sanguine  that 
but  a  few  weeks  would  elapse  before  we  would  be  re- 
united, and  used  this  argument  to  animate  me  with 
courage  to  meet  our  sc])aration. 

As  usual  we  rode  a  little  in  advance  and  selected 
camp,  and  watched  the  approach  of  the  regiment  with 
real  pride.  Thcj  were  so  accustomed  to  the  march  the 
line  hardlj  diverged  from  the  trail.  There  was  a  unity 
of  movement  about  them  that  made  the  column  at  a  dis- 
tance seem  like  a  broad  dark  ribbon  stretched  smoothly 
over  the  plains. 

We  made  our  camp  tlie  first  night  on  a  small  river  a 
few  miles  beyond  the  post.  There  the  paymaster  made 
his  disbursements,  in  order  that  the  debts  of  the  soldiers 
might  be  liquidated  with  the  sutler. 

In  the  morning  the  farewell  was  said,  and  the  pay- 
master took  sister  and  me  back  to  the  post. 

With  my  husband's  departure  my  last  happy  days  in 
garrison  were  ended,  as  a  premonition  of  disaster  that  1 
had  never  known  before  weighed  me  down.  I  could 
not  shake  off  the  baleful  influence  of  depressing  thoughts. 
This  presentiment  and  suspense,  such  as  I  had  never 
known,  made  me  selfish,  and  I  shut  into  my  heart  the 
most  uncontrollable  anxiet}^  and  could  lighten  no  one 
else's  burden.  The  occu]iations  of  other  summers  could 
not  even  give  temporai'y  interest. 

We  heard  constantly  at  the  Fort  of  the  disaffection  of 
12 


266  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 

tlie  3'onng  Indians  of  the  reservation,  and  of  their  join- 
ing the  hostiles.  We  knew,  for  we  had  seen  for  our- 
selves, how  admirably  tliej  were  equipped.  We  even 
saw  on  a  steamer  touching  at  our  landing  its  freight  of 
Springfield  rifles  piled  up  on  the  docks  en  route  for  the 
Indians  up  the  river.  Tliere  was  unquestionable  proof 
that  they  came  into  the  trading-posts  far  above  us  and 
bought  them,  while  our  own  brave  Tth  Cavah-y  troopers 
were  sent  out  with  only  the  short-range  carbines  that 
grew  foul  after  the  second  firing. 

While  we  waited  in  untold  suspense  for  some  hopeful 
news,  the  garrison  was  suddenly  thrown  into  a  state  of 
excitement  by  important  despatches  that  were  sent  from 
Division  Headquarters  in  the  East.  We  women  knew 
that  eventful  news  had  come,  and  could  hardly  restrain 
our  curiosity,  for  it  was  of  vital  import  to  us.  Indian 
scouts  were  fitted  out  at  the  Fort  with  the  greatest  de- 
spatch, and  given  instructions  to  make  the  utmost  speed 
they  could  in  rpaching  the  expedition  on  the  Yellow- 
stone. After  their  departure,  when  there  was  no  longer 
any  need  for  secrecy,  we  were  told  that  the  expedition 
which  had  started  from  the  Department  of  the  Platte, 
and  encountered  the  hostile  Indians  on  the  head-waters 
of  the  Hosebud,  had  been  compelled  to  retreat. 

All  those  victorious  Indians  had  gone  to  join  Sitting 
Bull,  and  it  was  to  warn  our  regiment  that  this  news 
was  sent  to  our  post,  which  was  the  estren)e  telegraphic 
communication  in  the  North-w^est,  and  the  orders  given 
to  transmit  the  information,  that  precautions  might  be 
taken  against  encountering  so  large  a  number  of  the 
enemy.    The  news  of  the  failure  of  the  campaign  in  the 


OUR  LIFE'S   LAST   CHAPTER.  267 

other  department  was  a  death-knell  to  our  hopes.  "We 
felt  that  we  had  nothing  to  expect  but  that  our  troops 
would  be  overwhelmed  with  numbers,  for  it  seemed  to 
us  an  impossibility,  as  it  really  proved  to  be,  that  our 
Indian  scouts  should  cross  that  vast  extent  of  country  in 
time  to  make  the  warning  of  use. 

The  first  steamer  that  returned  from  the  Yellowstone 
brought  letters  from  my  husband,  with  tlie  permission, 
for  which  I  had  longed  unutterably,  to  join  him  by  the 
next  boat.  The  Indians  had  fired  into  the  steamer  when 
it  had  passed  under  the  high  bluffs  in  the  gorges  of  the 
river.  I  counted  the  hours  until  the  second  steamer 
was  ready.  They  were  obliged,  after  loading,  to  cover 
the  pilot-house  and  other  vulnerable  portions  of  the 
upper  deck  with  sheet-iron  to  repel  attacks.  Then  sand- 
bags were  placed  around  the  guards  as  protection,  and 
other  precautions  taken  for  the  safety  of  those  on  board. 
All  these  delays  and  preparations  made  me  inexpressibly 
impatient,  and  it  seemed  as  if  the  time  would  never  come 
for  the  steamer  to  depart. 

Meanwhile  our  own  post  was  constantly  surrounded 
by  hostiles,  and  the  outer  pickets  were  continually  sub- 
jected to  attacks.  It  was  no  unusual  sound  to  hear  the 
lonir-roll  callinsr  out  the  infantry  before  dawn  to  defend 
the  garrison.  We  saw  the  faces  of  the  officers  blanch, 
brave  as  tiiey  were,  when  the  savages  grew  so  bold  as  to 
make  a  day-time  sortie  upon  our  outer  guards. 

A  picture  of  one  day  of  our  life  in  those  disconsolate 
times  is  fixed  indelibly  in  my  memory. 

On  Sunday  afternoon,  the  25th  of  June,  our  little 
group  of  saddened  women,  borne  down  witli  one  com- 


268  BOOTS  AND   SADDLlES. 

mon  weiglit  of  anxiety,  songlit  solace  in  gathering  to- 
gether in  onr  house.  We  tried  to  find  some  sliglit  sur- 
cease from  trouble  in  the  old  liymns:  some  of  them 
dated  back  to  our  childhood's  dnj-s,  when  our  mothers 
rocked  us  to  sleep  to  their  soothing  strains.  I  remember 
the  grief  with  which  one  fair  young  wife  threw  herself 
on  the  carpet  and  pillowed  her  head  in  the  lap  of  a 
tender  friend.  Another  sat  dejected  at  the  piano,  and 
struck  soft  chords  that  melted  into  the  notes  of  the 
voices.  All  were  absorbed  in  the  same  thoughts,  and 
their  eyes  were  tilled  with  far-away  visions  and  long- 
ings. Indescribable  yearning  for  the  absent,  and  un- 
told terror  for  their  safety,  engrossed  each  heart.  The 
words  of  the  hymn, 

"E'en  though  a  cross  it  be, 
Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee," 

came  forth  with  almost  a  sub  from  every  throat. 

At  that  very  hour  the  fears  that  our  tortured  minds 
had  portrayed  in  imagination  were  realities,  and  the  souls 
of  those  we  thought  upon  were  ascending  to  meet  their 
Maker. 

On  the  5th  of  July  — for  it  took  that  time  for  the 
news  to  come  —  the  sun  rose  on  a  beautiful  world,  but 
with  its  earliest  beams  came  the  first  knell  of  disaster. 
A  steamer  came  down  the  river  bearing  the  wounded 
from  the  battle  of  the  Little  Big  Horn,  of  Sundaj^,  June 
25th.  This  battle  wrecked  the  lives  of  twenty-six  women 
at  Fort  Lincoln,  and  orphaned  children  of  officers  and 
soldiers  joined  their  cry  to  that  of  their  bereaved 
mothers. 


OUR   LIFE'S  LAST   CHAPTER.  2G0 

From  that  time  the  life  went  out  of  the  hearts  of  tlie 
"women  who  weep,"  and  God  asked  them  to  walk  on 
alone  and  in  the  shadow. 


Mrs.  Custer  very  naturally  ends  her  work  with  the 
coming  of  the  news  that  put  so  many  women's  lives  in 
shadow.  She  has  attempted  no  account  of  the  Little 
Big  Horn  expedition,  and  none  seems  necessary  here; 
but  it  is  deemed  best  to  add  the  following  very  brief 
outline  by  way  of  explanation  to  any  reader  whose 
memory  may  need  refreshing: 

The  expedition  during  the  summer  of  187G,  which  ended  so  fatally 
■with  the  battle  of  the  Little  Big  Horn,  was  under  General  Terry, 
the  ranking  officer.  General  Custer  commanded  under  him  the  7th 
Cavalry.  As  it  marched,  the  force  struck  a  fresh  Indian  trail,  and 
scouts  were  sent  to  follow  it  up  and  ascertain  the  number  of  war- 
riors in  the  baud.  This  can  be  done  With  great  accuracy.  The 
number  of  Indians  can  be  estimated  by  following  the  trail  far  enough 
to  get  its  average  width  and  the  size  of  the  circle  grazed  over  at 
night  by  the  ponies  on  which  the  warriors  ride.  In  this  case  the 
scouts  followed  the  trail  far  enough  to  ascertain  that  twelve  hun- 
dred Indians  were  in  the  band,  but  did  not  learn  the  location  of  the 
village  where  they  Avere  encamped.  Upon  their  return  General 
Terry  and  General  Custer  consulted  together.  It  was  well  known 
to  them  that  the  vigilance  of  the  Indian  keeps  outposts  and  signa'- 
fires  on  every  hill-top,  thus  making  it  an  impossibility  to  approach 
one  of  their  villages  unobserved.  Neither  could  it  be  kept  from 
their  quick  eyes  what  the  strength  of  the  approaching  force  was. 
To  await  an  attack  or  to  advance  with  superior  numbers  was  to 
give  the  Indians  a  chance  to  escape,  and  their  wariness  was  known 
to  all.  Accordingly  it  was  determined  that  General  Custer  should 
take  such  force  as  he  tliought  the  Indians,  seeing  him  approac'h, 
would  stand  agaiust  awaiting  its  attack.  He  was  conviuced  that 
tlie  7th  Cavalry  was  as  large  a  body  as  could  be  taken  with  safet}', 
and  was  a  match  for  twelve  Jiundred  Indians.     He  knew  his  men, 


270  BOOTS  AND  SADDLES. 

aud  knew  what  lie  was  doing.  It  was  suggested  that  he  should  take 
a  piece  of  artillery,  but  the  scouts  had  described  the  bad  lands  over 
which  they  must  march,  and  General  Custer  knew  that  artillery 
would  hamper  his  movements  besides  increasing  the  apparent  size 
of  the  command.  He  started  with  only  his  regiment,  and  the  rest 
of  the  expedition  halted  to  await  the  result.  The  officers  and  men 
went  out  feeling  certain  that  a  fight  awaited  them.  If  there  had 
been  but  twelve  hundred  warriors,  as  there  was  every  reason  to  sup- 
pose, the  affair  would  have  ended  well ;  but  Indian  reinforcements, 
covering  a  trail  half  a  mile  wide  (as  was  learned  after  the  battle), 
had  come  from  the  North,  and  in  an  opposite  direction  to  that  in 
which  the  Indians  were  going.  Instead,  therefore,  of  a  thousand, 
the  gallant  7th  Cavalry  encountered  about  five  thousand  Indians, 
who  were  emboldened  by  success  in  their  battle  in  another  depart- 
ment, and  made  even  more  venturesome  by  their  increase  of  num- 
bers. 

General  Custer  called  a  halt  as  he  approached  the  village,  and 
summoning  his  officers,  explained  to  them  his  plan  of  attack,  which 
was  the  same  that  had  proved  so  successful  in  the  battle  of  the 
Washita,  in  the  previous  history  of  the  regiment.  He  offered  the 
lead  to  that  officer  who  should  first  report  his  company  ready  for 
battle.  In  a  few  seconds  one  of  the  highest  in  rank  received  this 
desired  honor.  Dividing  the  command  into  three  detachments. 
General  Custer  led  the  body  of  liis  regiment  in  that  final  charge,  in 
which  afterwards  the  line  of  battle  of  a  portion  could  be  traced  by 
the  dead  men  and  horses  as  they  fell  at  the  post  of  duty,  and  from 
which  no  man  escaped. 


APPENDIX. 


THE  YELLOWSTONE   EXPEDITION  OF   1873. 

Extracts  from  Letters  written  by  General  Custer  to  his  Wife  during  the  Ex- 
peciition  to  the  Yellowstone  in  1873. 

[Many  of  the  letters  from  which  the  following  extracts  are  taken  are  very 
long,  but  so  much  of  them  is  of  a  personal  nature  that  I  have  sought  here  to  give 
only  those  portions  that  convey  au  idea  of  the  camp-life  and  daily  experiences 
of  a  campaign  on  the  frontier. 

I  regret  that  I  have  not  the  lettere  giving  an  account  of  the  Indian  fights. 
I  have  substituted  a  copy  of  General  Custer's  official  report  to  complete  the 
story  of  the  summer  of  1SI3.— E.  B.  C] 

Camp  on  Heart  River,  D.  T.,  June  26,  IST3. 

When  I  may  have  an  opportunity  to  send  this,  or  when  it  may 
reach  you,  I  cannot  tell ;  but  I  will  have  it  ready,  and  when  the  first 
courier  leaves  he  shall  carry  these  tidings  to  you. 

This  is  our  sixth  day  out  from  Fort  Rice.  We  reached  this  river 
yesterday  about  noon,  and  are  remaining  in  camp  to-day  as  it  is 
somewhere  in  this  locality  that  we  expect  to  find  the  railroad  engin- 
eers, and  Lieut.  D and  four  companies  of  infantry  that  left  Fort 

Rice  before  you  did. 

Our  march  has  been  perfectly  delightful  thus  far.  We  have  en- 
countered no  Indians,  although  yesterday  we  saw  the  fresh  tracks 
of  about  fifteen  ponies,  showing  that  they  are  in  our  viciuit3\ 

I  never  saw  such  fine  hunting  as  we  have  constantly  had  since 
we  left  Fort  Rice.  I  have  done  some  of  the  best  shooting  I  ever  did, 
and  as  you  are  always  so  interested  I  want  to  tell  you  about  it.  I 
take  twenty-five  picked  men  with  me,  and  generally  have  several 


273  APPENDIX. 

oflBcers  in  the  party  besides.  It  is  not  necessary  to  go  out  of  sight 
of  the  column,  as  the  game  is  so  abundant  we  can  even  eclipse  your 
story  about  antelope  running  into  the  men's  arms!  They  actually 
ran  through  our  wagon-train,  and  one  was  run  over  by  a  wagon  and 
caught!  Tom*  immediately  remarked,  "Well,  by  George,  we  can 
beat  Libbie's  story  now !" 

The  first  day  out  the  dogs  caught  an  antelope  and  I  shot  one, 
eince  when  I  have  brought  in  from  two  to  four  daily.  Day  before 
3'esterday  the  members  of  our  mess  killed  eight  antelope.  But  I 
must  tell  3'ou  of  some  of  my  recent  shots  v.ith  my  new  Springfield 
rifle. 

Three  days  ago  F and  I  with  a  party  were  out  in  sight  of  the 

column,  when  an  antelope  started  up  fully  two  hundred  yards  dis- 
tant, and  ran  rapidly  parallel  to  us.  I  fired  five  times  at  it  while 
running,  at  this  distance.  It  then  stopped,  and  I  got  about  twenty- 
five  paces  nearer  when  I  fired  off-hand,  aiming  directly  at  the  head. 
It  fell,  and  I  measured  the  distance,  which  proved  to  be  one  hundred 
and  seventy  yards,  and  the  antelope  was  found  to  be  shot  through 
the  head.  Of  the  five  shots  which  I  had  fired  at  it  while  running  at 
a  distance  of  two  hundred  yards,  four  had  struck  the  antelope,  one 
breaking  its  thigh  and  two  going  through  its  body. 

Yesterday  a  fine  large  buck  came  bounding  over  the  hill  across 
our  path.  He  was  so  far  that  no  one  seemed  to  think  it  worth  while 
to  aim  at  him,  but  I  thought  I  would  try.  Jumping  off  my  thorough- 
bred, Vic,  in  an  instant  I  had  my  rifle  at  my  shoulder  and  levelled  at 
the  buck,  which  waS  running  at  full  speed.  I  pressed  the  trigger, 
and  waiting  an  instant  to  give  the  bullet  time  to  reach  its  mark,  the 
buck  was  seen  to  fall  lifeless  in  the  grass.  To  be  accurate  in  the  dis- 
tance I  requested  F to  measure  it.     He  did  so,  and  found  it  to 

be  two  hundred  and  eighty  j-ards.  Galloping  to  where  the  antelope 
liad  fallen,  I  found  him  shot  directly  through  the  centre  of  the  neck, 
about  one  foot  from  the  head,  the  neck  being  broken  by  the  shot. 
I  put  him  entire  on  the  orderly  trumpeter's  horse  and  sent  him  to 
the  wagons  to  be  carried  to  camp,  where  I  butchered  him.  He  was 
the  fattest  antelope  1  ever  saw. 

I  sent  H and  ]VI 's  messes  each  a  quarter.      I  h;ive  not 

*  The  "eiicrurB  bmiher. 


APPENDIX.  273 

only  been  fortunate  enough  to  keep  our  own  mess  supplied  with 
game  every  meal  since  we  left  Fort  Eice,  but  have  had  quantities  to 
send  to  the  infantry  officers,  to  the  band,  and  to  many  of  our  own 
officers. 

Poor  Fred  and  Tom !  They  have  accompanied  me  frequently— 
Fred  always  along — and  yet  neither  of  them  has  been  able  thus  far 
to  kill  a  single  antelope.  I  tease  them  a  great  deal,  for  they  use  the 
Winchester  rifle.  It  is  remarkably  accurate  up  to  one  hundred 
yards,  and  not  so  beyond  that  distance. 

You  know  when  Tom  takes  a  notion  to  get  anything  of  mine 
how  very  persistent  he  is.  Well,  his  latest  dodge  is  to  obtain  pos- 
session of  my  Springfield  rifle,  which  I  allow  my  orderly,  Tuttle,  to 
carry.  Night  before  last  he  carried  it  off  to  his  tent  v/ithout  saying 
anything  about  it ;  but  Tuttle  slipped  down  while  Tom  was  at 
breakfast  and  recaptured  the  rifle  ! 

I  wish  you  could  have  seen  one  of  our  hunting-parties  coming 
into  camp  a  few  days  ago,  after  a  hunt  of  not  more  than  four  hours, 
in  sight  of  the  column  all  the  time.     My  orderlies  and  I  had  four 

antelope  strapped  to  our  saddles  ;  then  came  Captain  F ,  with 

a  fine,  large  buck  strapped  behind  him  and  a  saddle  in  his  front, 
while  his  orderly  was  similarly  loaded ;  then  McD and  his  or- 
derly, each  with  a  splendid  antelope  on  his  saddle,  while  others  of 
the  men  who  had  accompanied  me  were  well  provided  with  game — 

except  poor  11 .    lie  and  the  four  men  of  his  company  who  went 

with  us  had  equal  chances  with  the  rest,  but  they  had  nothing.    The 

officers  give  H no  rest  now  on  the  subject  of  antelope  ;  the  last 

advice  given  him  was  that  his  only  chance  now  is  to  spread  his  fish- 
net (which  the  officers  ridicule  him  for  bringing  into  such  a  country 
as  this)  and  catch  the  antelope  in  that  way!  Tuttle  killed  two  ante- 
lope at  one  shot  with  my  Springfield  at  pretty  long  range. 

Yesterday  Fred  and  I  had  an  exciting  time  with  an  elk  that  swam 
the  river  twice  near  us,  but  we  only  succeeded  in  wounding  him 
before  he  got  away  to  the  bluffs  beyond  sight  of  the  command, 
where  we  did  not  deem  it  prudent  to  follow  him. 

I  am  glad  that  I  posted  myself  with  regard  to  taxidermy;  for 
yesterday,  after  reaching  camp,  I  devoted  all  the  afternoon  to  pre- 
paring the  head  of  the  antelope  I  killed  for  preservation.  The 
anliors  the  oflicers  think  the  finest  they  ever  saw.     I  have  prepared 

12* 


274  APPENDIX. 

the  entire  head,  and  the  skin  of  about  one  foot  of  the  neck.  I  also 
have  a  beautiful  set  of  elk  antlers  that  I  hope  to  get  through  safely. 
I  carrj^  them  strapped  on  top  of  the  ambulance  of  Mary,  our  cook. 

I  do  not  think  we  are  going  to  have  any  serious  difficulty  with 
the  Indians — at  least  this  is  General  Rosser's  opinion.  lie  thinks 
this  expedition  is  too  large  and  unwieldy  to  perform  the  desired 
work  promptl}'',  and  I  agree  with  him. 

There  is  an  officer  temporarily  detailed  with  the  command  who 
inspires  my  respect  because  he  regards  the  wishes  of  his  mother  so 
highly.  He  has  some  fine  rifles  at  home,  but  did  not  bring  any  with 
him,  merely  to  please  his  mother,  who  feared  that  if  he  brought  his 
guns  along  he  would  be  tempted  to  wander  off  alone  hunting. 

It  is  four  days  since  I  began  this  letter,  but  we  have  been  moving 
in  the  mean  while,  so  that  but  little  opportunity  for  writing  has  been 
allowed. 

With  the  ten  companies  of  the  7th  1  started  to  join  the  engineers, 
leaving  the  infantry  and  train  to  follow  us.  I  marched  thirty  miles 
over  a  bad  country,  besides  building  a  bridge  over  a  stream  thirty 
feet  wide  and  ten  feet  deep.  I  superintended  and  planned  it,  and 
about  one  hundred  and  eighty  men  worked  to  complete  it.  About 
twenty  men  had  to  cross  the  stream  before  the  bridge  could  be  begun. 

An  officer  must  go  with  them,  so  I  detailed  McD and  twenty  of 

his  men.     They  had  to  strip  off  and  swim  across.     You  ought  to 

have  heard  the  young  officers    on  the  bank  hooting  at  McD 

when  he  was  preparing  to  lead  the  "light  brigade"  across  the 
water !  I  built  a  bridge  in  about  two  hours,  over  which  the  whole 
command  and  wagon-train  passed. 

The  officers  have  a  good  joke  on  Lieut.  II .     Nearly  all  of 

them  have  killed  antelope,  so  Mr.  II concluded  he  must  kill 

his.  He  went  out  yesterday  near  the  column  and  soon  espied  an 
antelope  quietly  lying  in  the  grass  about  one  hundred  yards  distant. 
Quickly  dismounting  from  his  horse,  he  crawled  on  the  ground  until 
near  enough,  as  he  thought,  to  kill  it.  Taking  deliberate  aim  he 
fired,  but  the  ball  fell  short  a  few  feet;  j-et  the  antelope  was  not  dis- 
turbed. This  is  not  unusual.  Again  he  took  aim  this  time  with 
great  care,  fired,  and  to  his  joy  he  saw  the  fur  fly  from  the  antelope. 
Never  doubting  but  that  he  had  given  him  a  mortal  wound,  Mr. 
H leaped  into  his  saddle  and  galloped  up  to  the  antelope  to  cut 


APPENDIX.  275 

its  throat.  Imagine  his  disgust  to  find  that  the  antelope  had  been 
dead  several  days,  and  had  already  been  taken  possession  of  by  the 
flies!     The  officers  will  never  let  him  hear  the  last  of  it. 

Well,  I  have  joined  the  engineers,  and  am  having  such  pleasant 
visits  vrith  General  Rosser.  We  talk  over  our  West  Point  times 
and  discuss  the  battles  of  the  war.  I  stretch  the  buffalo-robe  under 
the  fly  of  the  tent,  and  there  in  the  moonlight  he  and  I,  lying  at  full 
length,  listen  to  each  other's  accounts  of  battles  in  which  both  had 
borne  a  part.  It  seemed  like  the  time  when  we  were  cadets  togeth- 
er, huddled  on  one  blanket  and  discussing  dreams  of  the  future. 
Rosser  said  the  worst  whipping  he  had  during  the  war  was  the  one 
I  gave  him  the  9th  of  October,  when  I  captured  everything  he  had, 
including  the  uniform  now  at  home  in  Monroe.  He  said  that  on  the 
morning  of  that  fight,  just  as  the  battle  was  commencing  he  was  on 
a  hill  on  our  front,  which  I  well  remember,  watching  us  advance. 
He  was  looking  at  us  through  his  field-glass,  and  saw  and  recognized 
me  as  plainly  as  if  I  had  been  by  his  side.  I  Avas  at  the  head  of  my 
troops — all  of  whicli  I  remember — and  advancing  to  the  attack. 

Rosser  said  as  soon  as  he  recognized  me  he  sent  for  his  brigade 
commanders  and  pointed  me  out  to  them,  saying,  "  Do  you  see  that 
man  in  front  with  long  hair?  Well,  that's  Custer,  and  we  must  bust 
him  up  to-daj'." 

"And  so,"  General  Rosser  continued,  ''  we  would  have  done  had 
you  attacked  us  as  we  thought  you  intended  to;  but  instead  of  that 
you  slipped  another  column  away  around  us,  and  my  men  soon  be- 
gan calling  out,  'We're  flanked!  we're  flanked!'  then  broke  and  ran, 
and  nothing  could  stop  them." 

Rosser  wanted  to  meet  you  at  the  crossing,  but  failed,  and  wrote 
to  his  wife  to  try  and  see  you  in  St.  Paul,  but  you  had  already  gone 
through. 

He  too  asked  if  you  did  not  accompany  me  almost  everywhere; 
so  you  see  what  an  extended  reputation  for  campaigning  you  have. 
And,  do  you  know,  he  tells  me  he  thinks  I  am  anxious  to  get  back  to 
you.     But  I  did  not  tell  him  that  I  was  already  counting  the  days. 

I  killed  another  antelope  yesterday,  two  the  day  before,  and  two 
the  day  before  that.  ]\Iary  made  us  a  delicious  pot-pic  out  of  two 
curlew  I  .shot.  Whenever  the  subject  of  pot-pies  comes  up,  ]\Ir. 
Calhoun,  Tom,  and  I  at  once  begin  talking  of  the  place  where  we 


276  AITENDIX. 

got  the  best  pot-pies  -we  ever  tasted.  One  -will  say,  "I'll  tell  you 
Avhere  you  can  got  the  very  nicest  pot-pie  you  ever  put  in  your 
mouth,"  and  before  he  can  go  any  further  the  other  two  will  call 
out,  "At  mother's." 

I  saw  the  most  beautiful  red-deer  yesterday  I  ever  have  seen.  It 
was  a  new  species  to  me;  of  the  deepest  red,  as  red  as  the  reddest  cow 
you  ever  saw.     I  was  too  far  away  to  get  a  shot. 

All  the  officers  wore  up  at  my  tent  last  night  at  twilight,  sitting 
under  the  awning  in  front,  all  jolly,  all  good-humored,  full  of  their 
jokes,  and  prouder  than  ever  of  the  7th,  as  they  tnodesily  compared 
the  regiment  with  the  infantry. 

This  letter  of  forty -four  closely -written  pages  would  make  a 
Galaxy  article  so  far  as  its  length  goes  ;  suppose  you  send  me  a 
check  for  it  as  the  Galaxy  people  do  for  theirs  ? 

You  must  read  a  good  deal  of  it  to  mother,  or  tell  her  of  its  con- 
tents, and  say  that  this  time  this  letter  must  do  for  the  family.  I  hope 
your  going  home  will  be  a  comfort  to  her  and  improve  her  health. 

Tell  D if  she  is  going  to  come  into  the  Custer  family  she 

must  be  prepared  to  receive  little  billet-doux  something  the  size  of 
this  volume  ! 

Tom  says,  "Tell  Libbie  I  intended  writing,  but  when  I  saw  the 
length  of  this  letter  I  knew  that  there  was  nothing  left  to  tell  her!" 

Tellinvstoiie  Kiver,  July  10,  1873. 

"Well,  here  we  are,  encamped  on  the  banks  of  the  far-famed  and 
to  you  far  distant  Yellowstone !  How  I  have  longed  to  have  you 
see,  during  our  progress,  what  seems  to  me  almost  like  another  world. 
Truly  can  this  interesting  region  be  termed  the  "Wonder-laud  !" 

When  the  command  amved  at  what  was  supposed  to  be  a  dis- 
tance of  about  fifteen  miles  from  the  river,  it  became  necessary  and 
important  to  ascertain  where  the  steamboat  with  supplies  that  had 
come  by  river  was  located.  I  volunteered  to  go  on  a  steamboat 
hunt,  as  I  had  hunted  almost  every  other  species  of  game  ;  so  tak- 
ing two  troops  and  leaving  our  tents  and  wagons,  I  started  on  a 
search  for  the  Key  Wed.  Several  of  the  officers  applied  to  go,  and 
General  Rosser,  who  is  always  ready  for  a  trip  of  this  kind,  accepted 
my  invitation  to  accompany  us. 

Ino  artist — not  even  a  Church  or  a  Bierstadt— could  fairly  repre- 


APPENDIX.  277 

sent  the  wonderful  country  we  passed  over,  while  each  step  of  onr 
progress  was  like  each  successive  shifting  of  the  kaleidoscope,  pre- 
senting to  our  wondering  gaze  views  which  almost  appalled  us  by 
their  sublimity. 

We  passed  over  a  region  so  full  of  caiioDS  and  precipices.  Mucu 
of  our  journey  v/as  necessarily  made  on  foot,  our  horses  being  led  in 
single  file,  except  my  own  noble  "Dandy."  He  seemed  to  realize 
the  difficulties  of  the  route,  and  although  permitted  to  run  untethered, 
he  followed  me  as  closely  and  carefully  as  a  well-trained  dog. 

Sometimes  we  found  ourselves  on  the  summit  of  a  high  peak,  to 
ascend  which  we  had  to  risk  both  life  and  limb,  and  particularly  im- 
peril the  safety  of  our  horses.  Once  we  came  to  a  steep  declivity 
which  neither  man  nor  horse  could  descend.  It  was  impossible  to 
retrace  our  steps,  as  the  sides  of  the  peak  were  so  steep  our  horses 
could  not  turn  about  without  great  danger  of  tumbling  hundreds 
of  feet.  Asking  the  rest  to  wait  a  moment,  I  looked  about  and 
discovered  a  possible  way  out  to  our  left,  provided  a  huge  rock 
which  lay  in  the  path  could  be  removed.  Bidding  Tuttle  "Look 
out,"  and  uttering  a  few  words  of  caution  to  Dandy,  who  seemed  to 
comprehend  our  situation  and  say,  "All  right,  don't  mind  me,"  I 
left  him  clinging  to  the  soft  and  yielding  soil  of  the  moimtain.  I 
succeeded  in  dislodging  the  rock  after  some  work,  and  sent  it  leap- 
ing down  the  rocky  side  leading  to  the  valley,  sometimes  taking 
hundreds  of  feet  at  one  plunge.  The  way  being  clear,  a  simjjle 
"Come  on,  Dandy,"  and  we  took  the  advance,  followed  by  the 
rest.  We  were  well  repaid  for  our  risk  and  trouble  by  the  gran- 
deur of  the  scenery  that  lay  spread  out  beneath  us. 

I  am  making  a  rare  collection  of  the  fossils  that  the  country  is 
rich  in — vegetable  and  mineral  specimens.  I  hope  you  will  approve 
of  my  plan  of  dispos;xl  of  them  :  I  intend  to  give  them  to  the  college 
at  Ann  Arbor.  What  would  you  think  to  pass  through  thousands 
of  acres  of  petrified  trees,  some  of  which  are  twelve  feet  in  diameter, 
with  trunks  and  branches  perfect !  The  fallen  trunks  of  some  as  they 
lie  on  the  ground  are  so  natural  in  grain  and  color,  the  officers  are 
sometimes  deceived  and  sit  down,  thinking  them  but  lately  felled. 

To  return  to  my  search  for  the  steamboat.  After  struggling 
through  the  beds  of  deep  canons  and  climbing  almost  inaccessible 
peaks,  we  finally  emerged  into  the  valley  of  the  Yellowstone.     We 


278  APPENDIX. 

were  still  obliged  in  crossing  swales  to  struggle  on  by  walking,  lead- 
ing, climbing,  and  stumbling,  and  after  a  ride  of  ten  miles  we  came  to 
where  the  boat  was  moored. 

Every  one  is  congratulating  F on  getting  the  place  I  applied 

to  Rosser  for,  as  a  member  of  the  party  of  engineers.  He  will  get 
$60  a  month,  and  a  prospect  later  of  advancement  and  higher  salary. 
It  is  such  a  pleasure  when  I  can  help  young  men  who  evince  a  dis- 
position to  help  themselves.  I  never  forget  those  who  gave  me  my 
first  encouragement  in  life.  How  I  have  wished  that  some  of  our 
home  boys,  who  possess  talent  and  education,  but  lack  means  and 
opportunity,  would  cast  themselves  loose  from  home  and  try  their 
fortunes  in  this  great  enterprising  western  country,  Avhere  the  virtues 
of  real  manhood  come  quickly  to  the  surface,  and  their  possessor 
finds  himself  transformed  from  a  mere  boy  to  a  full-fledged  man  al- 
most before  he  realizes  his  quick  advancement.  It  is  such  a  comfort 
to  me  to  feel  independent.  Much  as  I  dote  on  my  profession,  and 
earnestly  as  I  am  devoted  to  it,  yet  should  accident  cast  me  adrift 
and  I  be  thrown  upon  my  own  resources,  I  have  not  a  fear  but  that 
energy  and  a  willingness  to  put  my  shoulder  to  the  wheel  would 
carry  me  through  and  with  reasonable  success. 

In  this  country,  no  man,  particularly  if  moderately  educated,  need 
fail  in  life  if  determined  to  succeed,  so  many  and  varied  are  the 
avenues  to  honorable  employment  which  open  on  all  hands  before 
him. 

The  climate  is  perfect  out  here;  not  five  men  are  sick  out  of  the 
whole  ten  troops,  and  one  poor  fellow  who  was  about  to  be  dis- 
charged before  we  left  for  disability,  as  he  was  thought  to  be  in  con- 
sumption, is  now  well  and  docs  not  desire  his  discharge.  Though  it 
is  July  we  sleep  under  blankets  constantly. 

Regarding  the  dogs,  I  find  myself  more  warmly  attached  to  Tuck 
than  to  any  other  I  have  ever  owned.  Did  I  tell  you  of  her  catching 
a  full-grown  antelope-buck,  and  pulling  him  down  after  a  run  of 
over  a  mile,  in  which  she  left  the  other  dogs  far  behind?  She  comes 
to  me  almost  every  evening  when  I  am  sitting  in  my  large  camp- 
chair,  listening  to  the  band  or  joining^with  the  ofiicers  in  conversa- 
tion. First  she  lays  her  head  on  my  knee,  as  if  to  ask  if  I  am  too 
much  engaged  to  notice  her.  A  pat  of  encouragement  and  her  fore- 
feet arc  thrown  lightly  across  my  lap  ;  a  few  moments  in  this  post- 


APPENDIX.  279 

ure  and  she  lifts  her  bind-feet  from  the  ground,  and,  great,  over- 
grown dog  tliat  she  is,  quietly  and  gently  disposes  of  herself  on  my 
lap,  and  at  times  will  cuddle  down  and  sleep  there  for  an  hour  at  a 
lime,  until  I  become  so  tired  of  my  charge  that  I  am  compelled  to 
transfer  her  to  mother  earth ;  and  even  then  she  resembles  a  well- 
cared  for  and  half-spoiled  child,  who  can  never  be  induced  to  retire 
until  it  has  been  fondled  to  sleep  in  its  mother's  arms. 

Tuck  will  sleep  so  soundly  in  my  lap  that  1  can  transfer  her 
gently  to  the  ground  and  she  will  continue  her  slumber,  like  a  little 
baby  carefully  deposited  in  its  crib.  As  I  write  she  is  lying  at  my 
feet.     She  makes  up  with  no  other  person. 

I  have  just  told  Tom  if  he  expects  letters  from  you,  he  must  write 
first.  He  answers  that  he  would  like  to  know  what  he  can  find  to 
write  "after  she  receives  that  book  from  you."  And  one  might  think 
that  the  eighty  pages  of  this  letter  had  exhausted  every  subject,  but 
there  is  much  I  must  leave  untold. 

I  am  prouder  and  prouder  of  the  7th,  Libbie ;  not  an  officer  or 
man  of  my  command  has  been  seen  intoxicated  since  the  expedition 

left  Fort  Rice.     H and  I  have  our  periodical  official  tussles,  as 

usual,  but  I  see  a  great  deal  of  him  and  like  him  better  than  ever. 

We  have  just  parted  with  a  member  of  the  expedition  who  is  not 
a  loss  to  us,  for  he  is  a  gossip  but  not  viciously  inclined — rather  the 
contrary.  He  peddles  tiresome  tales  without  meaning  harm.  Every- 
bodj^  in  the  7th  Cavalry  camp  is  content  to  attend  to  liis  own  busi- 
ness and  not  meddle  with  other  people's  affairs. 

You  will  scarcely  credit  what  I  am  about  to  tell  you,  but  it  is  an 
undeniable  fact :  here  we  have  been  encamped  for  several  days  with 
pickets  and  guards  surrounding  our  camp  for  its  protection. 

Our  march  here  was  over  a  stretch  of  wild,  almost  unknown 
country,  supposed  to  be  infested  with  hostile  Indians.  Small  parties 
were  not  deemed  safe  beyond  sight  of  our  column,  and  yet  to-day 
imagine  our  surprise  to  see  a  plain  white  covered  spring-wagon, 
drawn  by  two  mules  and  accompanied  by  a  single  individual,  ap- 
proach our  camp  from  the  direction  we  came  more  than  one  week  ago. 
It  proved  to  be  the  travelling-conveyance  of  an  humble  priest,  who, 
leaving  Fort  Rice  seven  daj's  ago,  traversed  alone  and  unguided,  ex- 
cept by  our  trail,  through  more  than  two  hundred  miles  of  hostile 
and  dangerous  country,  fording  rivers  winding  througli  deep  and 


280  APPENDIX. 

almost  impassable  canons,  toiling  over  mountains,  at  each  step  liable 
to  be  massacred  by  hostile  Indians.  The  coimtry  was  entirely  new 
to  him,  he  never  having  been  west  of  Fort  Rice  before.  He  came 
believing  he  could  be  of  spiritual  benefit  to  many  who  would  other- 
wise be  whollj"  deprived  of  such  comfort.  He  carried  no  arms,- 
adopted  no  special  precautions  for  his  safety,  but  with  a  simple  and 
unpretentious  cross  reverently  erected  and  borne  above  his  travelling- 
wagon,  he  took  his  life  in  his  hand  and  boldly  plunged  into  the 
wilds  of  this  almost  unknown  region,  evidently  relying  upon  Him 
who  ruleth  over  all,  to  guide  and  protect  him  in  his  perilous  journey. 
This  to  me  is  an  act  of  Christian  heroism  and  physical  courage  which 
entitles  this  humble  priest  to  immeasurable  honor  and  praise. 

Yellowstone  River,  above  Powdei-  Hivcr,  July  31,  1S73. 

.  .  .  The  Josephine  is  imloading  her  cargo  about  one  mile  below 
here,  and  leaves  for  Bismarck  within  an  hour.  We  expected  to 
have  an  opportunity  to  write  letters  to-day,  but  as  the  boat  receives 
five  hundred  dollars  a  day  it  is  important  to  discharge  her  as  soon 
as  practicable. 

The  command  is  not  in  camp  j-et.  I  took  a  squadron  and  started 
ahead  to  find  a  road.  You  have  no  idea  what  difficulty  we  have, 
looking  out  a  route  through  this  country  over  which  it  is  possible  to 
move  a  train.  Yesterday  I  took  two  companies  and  travelled  about 
forty  miles.     To-day  we  reached  the  Yellowstone  at  9.30. 

We  have  been  sleeping  since  (and  it  is  now  4  p.m.)  under  the 
large  trees  standing  on  the  river  bank.  I  have  just  received  one 
letter  from  you,  and  I  think  it  is  the  first  instalment  only,  for  I  hear 
there  are  seven  sacks  of  mail  on  board  the  boat.  I  am  soriy  I  am 
compelled  to  write  under  such  hurried  circumstances.  I  am  lying 
on  the  ground,  using  my  horse-blanket  for  a  desk. 

Official  li^'port  of  the  Engnyernents  tvith  Indimts   on   the   Ath   and   Wth 

ultimo. 
Copy. 

Ile:i(l-qiiiirter8  Cilttjilioii  7ih  Cavalry, 
Pompey's  Pillar,  Yellowstone  River,  Montana,  Aug.  15, 1ST3. 
Acting  Assistant  Adjutant-general  Telloicstone  Expedition  : 

Sir, — Acting  under  the  instructions  of  the  Brevct-major-gcneral 
commanding,  I  proceeded  at  five  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  4th 


ArPEXDIX.  281 

instant,  with  one  squadron  of  ray  command,  numbering  about  ninetj' 
men,  to  explore  a  route  over  which  the  main  column  could  move. 
Having  reached  a  point  on  the  Yellowstone  River,  near  the  mouth 
of  Tongue  Eiver,  and  several  miles  in  advance,  and  while  waiting 
the  arrival  of  the  forces  of  the  expedition,  six  mounted  Sioux 
dashed  boldly  into  the  skirt  of  timber  within  which  my  command 
had  halted  and  unsaddled,  and  attempted  to  stampede  our  horses. 
Fortunately  our  vedettes  discovered  the  approach  of  the  Indians  in 
time  to  give  the  alarm.  A  few  well-directed  shots  soon  drove  the 
Indians  to  a  safe  distance,  where  they  kept  up  a  series  of  yells,  occa- 
sionally firing  a  few  shots.  As  soon  a^the  squadi'on  could  mount, 
I  directed  Captain  Moylan  to  move  out  in  pursuit,  at  the  same  time 
I  moved  with  the  troops  in  advance,  commanded  by  First  Lieuten- 
ant T.  W.  Custer.  Following  the  Indians  at  a  brisk  gait,  mj  sus 
picions  became  excited  by  the  confident  bearing  exhibited  by  the  six 
Sioux  in  our  front,  whose  course  seemed  to  lead  us  near  a  heavy 
growth  of  timber  which  stood  along  the  river  bank  above  us.  AVhen 
almost  within  rifle  range  of  this  timber,  I  directed  the  squadron  to 
halt,  while  I  with  two  orderlies,  all  being  well  mounted,  continued 
after  the  Sioux  in  order  to  develop  their  intentions.  Proceeding  a 
few  hundred  yards  in  advance  of  the  squadron,  and  keeping  a 
watchful  eye  on  the  timber  to  my  left,  I  halted.  The  six  Indians 
in  my  front  also  halted,  as  if  to  tempt  farther  pursuit.  Finding  all 
efforts  in  this  direction  unavailing,  their  plans  and  intentions  were 
quickly  made  evident,  as  no  sooner  was  it  seen  that  we  intended  to 
advance  no  farther,  than  with  their  characteristic  howls  and  yells 
over  three  hundred  well-mounted  warriors  dashed  in  perfect  line 
from  the  edge  of  the  timber,  and  charged  down  upon  Captain  Moy- 
lan's  squadron,  at  the  same  time  endeavoring  to  intercept  the  small 
party  with  me.  As  soon  as  the  speed  of  the  thoroughbred  on  which 
I  was  mounted  brought  me  within  hailing  distance  of  Lieutenant 
Custer's  troop,  I  directed  that  officer  to  quickly  throw  forward  a 
dismounted  line  of  troopers,  and  endeavor  to  empty  a  few  Indiari 
saddles.  The  order  was  obeyed  with  the  greatest  alacrity,  and  as 
the  Sioux  came  dashing  forward,  expecting  to  ride  down  the  squad- 
ron, a  line  of  dismounted  cavalrymen  rose  from  the  grass  and  de- 
livered almost  in  the  faces  of  the  warriors  a  volley  of  carbine  bullets 
which  broke  and  scattered  their  ranks  in  all  directions,  and  scut 


283  APPENDIX. 

more  tlian  one  Sioux  reeling  from  his  saddle.  This  check  gave  us 
time  to  make  our  dispositions  to  resist  the  succeeding  attacks,  which 
we  knew  our  enemies  would  soon  make  upon  us.  The  great  supe- 
riority of  our  enemies  in  numbers,  the  long  distance  separating  us 
from  the  main  command,  and  the  belief,  afterwards  verified,  that 
the  woods  above  us  still  concealed  a  portion  of  the  savage  forces, 
induced  me  to  confine  my  movements,  at  first,  strictly  to  the  de- 
fensive. The  entire  squadron  (except  the  horse-holders)  was  dis- 
mounted and  ordered  to  fight  on  foot.  The  Indians  outnumbering 
us  almost  five  to  one  were  enabled  to  envelop  us  completely  between 
their  lines,  formed  in  a  semicircle,  and  the  river  which  flowed  at 
our  backs.  The  little  belt  of  timber  in  which  we  had  been  first  at- 
tacked formed  a  very  good  cover  for  our  led-horses,  while  the  crest 
of  a  second  table-land,  conveniently  located  from  the  timber,  gave 
us  an  excellent  line  of  defence.  The  length  of  our  line  and  the 
numbers  of  the  enemy  prevented  us  from  having  an}^  force  in  re- 
serve ;  every  available  officer  and  man  was  on  the  skirmish-line, 
which  was  in  reality  our  line  of  battle,  even  the  number  of  men 
holding  horses  had  to  be  reduced,  so  that  each  horse-holder  held 
eight  horses.  Until  the  Indians  were  made  to  taste  quite  freely  of 
our  lead  they  displayed  unusual  boldness,  frequently  charging  up  to 
our  line  and  firing  with  great  deliberation  and  accuracy.  Captain 
Moylan  exercised  command  along  the  entire  line  ;  Lieutenant  Cus- 
ter commanded  the  centre;  my  adjutant.  Lieutenant  James  Calhoun, 
commanded  the  right;  and  Lieutenant  Charles  A.  Varnum,  the  left. 
The  first  Indian  killed  was  shot  from  his  pony  by  "Bloody  Knife," 
the  Crow  who  acted  as  my  guide  and  scout.  Soon  after  Private 
Charles  P.  Miller,  of  "  A  "  troop  7th  Cavalry,  succeeded  in  sending 
a  carbine  bullet  directly  through  the  body  of  a  chief  who  had  been 
conspicuous  throughout  the  engagement.  At  the  same  time  it  was 
known  that  our  firing  had  disabled  many  of  their  ponies,  while  ow- 
ing to  our  sheltered  position  the  only  damage  thus  far  inflicted  upon 
us  was  one  man  and  two  horses  wounded,  one  of  the  latter  shot  in 
three  places. 

Finding  their  efforts  to  force  back  our  line  unavailing,  the  Indians 
now  resorted  to  another  expedient.  By  an  evidently  preconcerted 
plan  they  set  fire  in  several  places  to  the  tall  grass  which  covered 
the  ground  in  our  front,  hoping  by  this  means  to  force  us  back  to 


ArPENDIX.  283 

the  rear,  and  thus  finish  us  at  their  pleasure.  Fortunately  for  us 
tliere  was  no  wind  prevailing  at  the  time,  while  the  grass  was  scarce- 
ly dry  enough  to  burn  rapidly.  Taking  advantage  of  the  dense  cur- 
tain of  smoke  which  rose  from  the  burning  grass,  the  Indians,  by 
following  the  course  of  the  flame,  could  often  contrive  to  obtain  a 
shot  at  us  at  comparatively  close  range;  but  my  men,  observing 
that  there  was  no  danger  to  be  apprehended  from  the  slowly  ad- 
vancing flames,  could  frequently  catch  an  opportunity  to  send  a 
shot  through  a  break  in  the  curtain  of  smoke,  and  in  this  way  sur- 
prised the  Indian  by  the  adoption  of  his  own  device. 

The  fight  began  at  11.30  a.m.,  and  was  waged  without  cessation  un- 
til near  three  o'clock,  all  efforts  of  the  Indians  to  dislodge  us  proving 
unsuccessful.  The  Indians  had  become  extremely  weary,  and  had 
almost  discontinued  their  offensive  movements,  when  my  ammuni- 
tion ran  low.  I  decided  to  mount  the  squadron  and  charge  the  In- 
dians, with  the  intention  of  driving  them  from  the  field. 

Captain  Moylan  promptly  had  his  men  in  the  saddle,  and  throw- 
ing forward  twenty  mounted  skirmishers,  under  Lieutenant  Yar- 
num,  the  entire  squadron  moved  forward  at  a  trot.  No  sooner  did 
the  Indians  discern  our  intentions  than,  despite  their  superiority  in 
numbers,  they  cowardly  prepared  for  flight,  in  which  preparation 
they  were  greatly  hastened  when  Captain  Mojian's  squadron  charged 
them  and  drove  them  "pell-mell"  for  three  miles. 

Five  ponies  killed  or  badly  wounded  were  left  on  the  battle- 
ground or  along  the  line  of  their  flight.  So  rapidly  were  they  forced 
to  flee  that  they  abandoned  and  threw  away  breech-loading  arms, 
saddle  equipments,  clothing,  robes,  lariats,  and  other  articles  com- 
prised in  an  Indian  outfit. 

Among  the  Indians  who  fought  us  on  this  occasion  were  some  of 
the  identical  warriors  who  committed  the  massacre  at  Fort  i'hil. 
Kearney,  and  they  no  doubt  intended  a  similar  programme  wnen 
they  sent  the  six  warriors  to  dash  up  and  attempt  to  decoy  us  into  a 
pursuit  past  the  timber  in  which  the  savages  hoped  to  ambush  us. 
Had  we  pursued  the  six  warriors  half  a  mile  farther,  instead  of 
halting,  the  entire  band  of  warriors  would  have  been  in  our  rear, 
and  all  the  advantage  of  position  and  numbers  would  have  been 
with  them. 

So  far  as  the  troops  attacked  were  concerned,  the  Indians,  to  off- 


284  APPENDIX. 

set  their  own  heavy  losses,  had  been  able  to  do  us  no  damage  except 
to  wound  one  man  and  two  horses  ;  but  unfortunately  two  non-com- 
batants, Veterinary  Surgeon  John  Ilonsinger,  7th  Cavalry,  and  Mr. 
Baliran,  of  Memphis,  Tenn.,  in  endeavoring  to  come  from  the  main 
column  to  join  the  squadron  in  advance,  v/ere  discovered  by  the  In- 
dians during  the  attack,  and  being  unarmed  were  overtaken  and 
killed  almost  within  view  of  the  battle-ground.  Fortunately  the  In- 
dians were  so  pressed  as  not  to  be  able  to  scalp  or  otherwise  muti- 
late the  remains. 

On  the  8th  instant  we  discovered  the  trail  of  a  large  village,  evi- 
dently that  to  which  the  party  that  attacked  us  on  the  4th  belonged. 
The  course  of  the  trail  led  up  the  Yellowstone,  and  apparently  was 
not  more  than  two  days  old.  Acting  under  the  authority  of  the 
Brevet-major-general  commanding,  I  ordered  my  command,  consist- 
ing of  four  squadrons  of  the  7th  Cavalry,  in  readiness  to  begin  the 
pursuit  that  night.  The  Brevet-major-general  also  directed  the  de- 
tachment of  guides  and  Indian  scouts  under  Lieutenant  Daniel  II. 
Brush,  17th  Infantry,  to  report  to  me  for  temporary  service.  Leav- 
ing all  tents  and  wagons  behind,  and  taking  with  us  rations  for 
seven  days,  we  started  in  pursuit  at  ten  o'clock  on  the  night  of  the  8th 
instant,  having  waited  until  that  hour  until  the  moon  should  enable 
us  to  follow. the  trail.  Following  the  trail  as  rapidly  as  the  rough 
character  of  the  country  would  permit,  daylight  next  morning  found 
us  nearly  thirty  miles  from  our  starting-point.  Concealing  horses 
and  men  in  a  ravine,  a  halt  of  three  hours  was  ordered  to  enable  the 
horses  to  graze  and  the  men  to  obtain  refreshments.  Renewing  the 
march  at  eight  o'clock,  the  pursuit  was  continued  without  halting  until 
noon,  when,  to  avoid  discovery,  as  well  as  to  obtain  needed  rest  for 
men  and  animals,  it  w\as  decided  to  conceal  ourselves  in  the  timber, 
and  await  the  cover  of  night  to  continue  the  pursuit. 

Starting  out  at  6.30  r.M.,  the  trail  was  followed  rapidly  for  six 
miles,  when,  to  our  disappointment,  we  discovered  that  the  Indians 
had  taken  to  the  river,  and  crossed  to  the  east  side.  In  following 
their  trail  to  this  point  it  was  evident  that  the  movement  of  the  In- 
dians was  one  of  precipitate  flight,  the  result  of  the  engagement  on 
the  4th.  All  along  their  trail  and  in  their  camping-places  were  to 
be  found  large  quantities  of  what  constitutes  an  Indian's  equip- 
ments, such  as  lodge -poles,  robes,  saddle  equipments,  arms,  and 


APPENDIX.  285 

cooking  utensils.  In  a  hastily  abandoned  camp-ground  nearly  two 
hundred  axes,  besides  a  great  many  camp-kettles  and  cups,  were 
found. 

My  entire  command  was  disappointed  when  the  trail  showed  that 
the  Indians  had  crossed  to  the  other  side,  particularly  as  our  rapid 
marching  had  carried  us  to  the  point  of  crossing,  the  evening  of  the 
day  on  which  the  last  of  the  Indians  had  crossed  over,  so  that  one 
more  march  would  have  enabled  us  to  overhaul  them.  Bivouacking 
in  a  belt  of  timber  on  the  river  bank,  w^c  waited  until  daylight  to 
begin  an  attempt  to  cross  the  command  over  the  river,  which  at  this 
point  is  about  six  hundred  yards  wide.  At  early  dawn  the  entire 
command  forded  the  river  to  an  island  located  about  the  middle  of 
the  channel ;  but  our  difficulties  in  the  way  of  crossing  iiere  began, 
as  the  volume  of  water  and  the  entire  force  of  the  current  were  to 
be  encountered  between  the  Lsland  and  the  opposite  bank — the  cur- 
rent here  rushes  by  at  a  velocity  of  about  seven  miles  an  hour,  while 
the  depth  of  the  water  was  such  that  a  horse  attempting  to  cross 
would  be  forced  to  swim  several  hundred  yards.  Still,  as  we  knew 
the  Indians  had  not  discovered  our  pursuit,  and  were  probably  lo- 
cated within  easy  striking  distance  of  the  river,  it  was  most  desira- 
ble that  a  crossing  should  be  clfcctcd.  To  accomplish  this,  Lieuten- 
ant Weston,  7th  Cavalry,  with  three  accomplished  sv.immers  from 
the  command,  attempted  to  cross  on  a  log-raft,  carrying  with  them 
a  cable  made  of  lariats.  The  current  was  so  strong  that  Lieutenant 
Weston's  party  were  unable  to  effect  a  landing,  but  r/ere  swept 
down  the  river  nearly  tw^')  miles,  and  then  forced  to  abandon  the 
raft  and  swim  to  shore. 

Lieutenant  Weston,  with  characteristic  perseverance  and  energy, 
made  repeated  attempts  afterwards  to  carry  the  cable  over,  but  al- 
though succeeding  in  reaching  the  opposite  bank  in  person  was  un- 
able to  connect  the  cable  with  the  shore.  Almost  the  entire  day  was 
spent  in  these  unsuccessful  efforts,  until  finally  a  cros.oing  in  this 
manner  had  to  be  abandoned.  I  then  caused  some  cattle  to  be  killed, 
and  by  stretching  the  hides  over  a  kind  of  basket-frame  prepared 
by  the  Crow  guide,  made  wdiat  are  known  among  the  Indians  as 
bull-boats;  with  these  I  hoped  to  be  able  to  connect  a  cable  with  the 
opposite  bank  at  daylight  next  morning,  but  just  at  sunset  a  small 
party  of  Indians  were  seen  to  ride  down  to  the  bank  opposite  us  and 


286  APPENDIX. 

water  their  ponies.  They  discovered  our  presence,  and  at  once  hast- 
ened away.  Of  course  it  was  useless  now  to  attempt  a  surprise,  and 
the  intention  to  cross  the  river  the  following  morning  was  abandoned. 

At  early  dawn  the  next  day  (the  11th  instant),  the  Indians  ap- 
peared in  strong  force  on  the  river  bank  opposite  us,  and  opened  a 
brisk  fire  upon  us  from  their  rifles.  No  attention  was  paid  to  them 
until  encouraged  by  this  they  had  collected  at  several  points  in  full 
view,  and  within  range  of  our  rifles,  when  about  thirty  of  our  best 
marksmen,  having  posted  themselves  along  the  bank,  opened  a  well- 
directed  fire  upon  the  Indians  and  drove  them  back  to  cover. 

In  the  mean  time  strong  parties  of  Indians  were  reported  by  our 
pickets  to  be  crossing  the  river  below  and  above  us,  their  ponies  and 
themselves  being  so  accustomed  to  the  river  as  to  render  this  opera- 
tion quite  practicable  for  them.  Captain  French,  commanding  the 
right  wing,  was  directed  to  watch  the  parties  crossing  below,  Avhile 
Colonel  Hart,  commanding  tlic  left  wing,  posted  a  force  to  discharge 
this  duty  with  regard  to  parties  crossing  above.  It  would  have  been 
possible,  perhaps,  for  us  to  have  prevented  the  Indians  from  effect- 
ing a  crossing,  at  least  when  they  did,  but  I  was  not  only  willing 
but  anxious  that  as  many  of  them  should  come  over  as  were  so  dis- 
posed. They  were  soon  reported  as  moving  to  the  bluffs  immediate- 
ly in  rear  of  us  from  the  river.  Lieutenant  Brush  was  directed  to 
employ  his  scouts  in  watching  and  reporting  their  movements— a 
duty  which  they  discharged  in  a  thorough  manner. 

While  this  was  transpiring  I  had  mounted  my  command  and 
formed  it  in  line  close  under  the  bluffs  facing  from  the  river,  where 
we  quietly  waited  the  attack  of  the  Indians  in  our  front.  The  sharp- 
shooting  across  the  river  still  continued,  the  Indians  having  collected 
some  of  their  best  shots — apparently  armed  with  long-range  rifles — 
and  were  attempting  to  drive  our  men  back  from  the  water's  edge. 
It  wa3  at  this  time  that  my  standing  orderly.  Private  Tuttle,  of  "E" 
troop,  7th  Cavalry,  one  of  the  best  marksmen  in  my  command,  took 
a  sporting  Springfield  rifle  and  posted  himself,  with  two  other  men, 
behind  cover  on  the  river  bank,  and  began  picking  off  the  Indians 
as  they  exposed  themselves  on  the  opposite  bank.  He  had  obtained 
the  range  of  the  enemy's  position  early  in  the  morning,  and  was  able 
to  place  his  shots  wherever  desired.  It  was  while  so  engaged  that 
he  observed  an  Indian  in  full  view  near  the  river.    Calling  the  atteu- 


APrENDIX.  387 

tion  of  his  comrade  to  the  fact,  he  asked  him  "to  watch  him  drop 
that  Indian,"  a  feat  -wliich  he  succeeded  iu  performing.  Several 
other  Indians  rushed  to  tlie  assistance  of  their  fallen  comrade,  when 
Private  Tuttle,  by  a  skilful  and  rapid  use  of  his  breech-loading 
Springfield,  succeeded  in  killing  two  other  warriors.  The  Indians, 
enraged  no  doubt  at  this  rough  handling,  directed  their  aim  at  Pri- 
vate Tuttle,  who  fell  pierced  through  the  head  by  a  rifle-bullet,  lie 
was  one  of  the  most  useful  and  daring  soldiers  who  ever  served  un- 
der my  command. 

About  this  time  Captain  French,  who  was  engaged  with  the  In- 
dians who  were  attacking  us  from  below,  succeeded  in  shooting  a 
warrior  from  his  saddle,  while  several  ponies  were  known  to  be 
wounded  or  disabled.  The  Indians  now  began  to  display  a  strong 
force  in  our  front  on  the  bluffs.  Colonel  Ilart  was  ordered  to  push 
a  line  of  dismounted  men  to  the  crest,  and  prevent  the  further  ad- 
vance of  the  enemy  towards  the  river.  This  duty  was  handsomely 
performed  by  a  portion  of  Captain  Yates's  squadron.  Colonel  Hart 
had  posted  Lieutenant  Charles  Bradcn  and  twenty  men  on  a  small 
knoll  which  commanded  our  left.  Against  this  party  the  Indians 
made  their  first  onslaught.  A  mounted  party  of  warriors,  number- 
ing nearly  two  hundred,  rode  boldly  to  within  thirty  yards  of  Lieu- 
tenant Braden's  position,  when  the  latter  and  his  command  delivered 
such  a  well-directed  fire  that  the  Indians  were  driven  rapidly  from 
that  part  of  the  field,  after  having  evidently  suffered  considerable  loss. 

Unfortunately  Lieutenant  Braden  received  a  rifle-ball  through  the 
upper  part  of  the  thigh,  passing  directly  through  the  bone,  but  he 
maintained  his  position  with  great  gallantry  and  coolness  until  he 
had  repulsed  the  enemy.  Hundreds  of  Indians  were  now  to  be  seen 
galloping  up  and  down  along  our  front,  each  moment  becoming 
bolder,  owing  to  the  smallness  of  our  force  which  was  then  visible. 

Believing  the  proper  time  had  arrived  to  assume  the  offensive, 
orders  to  this  effect  were  accordingly  sent  to  Colonel  llart  and  Cap- 
tain French,  the  two  wing  commanders.  Lieutenant  Weston  wa.s 
directed  to  move  his  troop  "  L  "  up  a  deep  ravine  on  our  left,  which 
would  convey  him  to  the  enemy's  position,  and  as  soon  as  an  oppor- 
tunity occurred  he  was  to  charge  them,  and  pursue  the  Indians  with 
all  the  vigor  i)ractical)le.  Immediately  after.  Captain  Owen  Hale 
was  directed  to  move  his  squadron,  consisting  of  "E"  and  "K" 


288  APPENDIX. 

troops,  in  conjunction  with  "L"  troop,  and  the  three  to  charge  si 
multaneously.  Similar  dispositions  were  ordered  in  the  centre  and 
right.  Lieutenant  Custer,  commanding  "B  "  troop,  was  ordered  to 
advance  and  charge  the  Indians  in  front  of  our  centre,  while  Cap- 
tains Yates  and  Moylan  moved  rapidly  forward  in  the  same  direc- 
tion. Before  this  movement  began,  it  became  necessary  to  dislodge 
a  large  party  of  Indians  posted  in  a  ravine  and  behind  rocks  in  our 
front,  who  were  engaged  in  keeping  up  a  heavy  fire  upon  our  troops 
while  the  latter  were  forming.  It  was  at  this  point  that  the  horse 
of  Lieutenant  Hiram  II.  Kctchum,  Actingassistant-adjutant-gencral 
of  the  expedition,  was  shot  under  him.  My  own  horse  was  also 
shot  under  me  within  a  few  paces  of  the  latter. 

The  duty  of  driving  the  Indians  engaged  in  sharp-shooting  was 
intrusted  to  Lieutenant  Charles  A.  Varnum,  7th  Cavalry,  with  a  de- 
tachment of  "A"  troop,  7th  Cavalry,  who  soon  forced  the  Indians 
back  from  their  cover. 

Everything  being  in  readiness  for  a  general  advance,  the  charge 
was  ordered,  and  the  squadrons  took  the  gallop  to  the  tune  of  "Gar- 
ryowen,"  the  band  being  posted  immediately  in  rear  of  the  skirmish 
line.  The  Indians  had  evidently  come  out  prepared  to  do  their  best, 
and  with  no  misgivings  as  to  their  success,  as  the  mounds  and  high 
bluffs  bc3'ond  the  river  w-ere  covered  with  groups  of  old  men, 
squaws,  and  children,  who  had  collected  there  to  witness  our  de- 
struction. In  this  instance  the  proverbial  power  of  music  to  soothe 
the  savage  breast  utterly  failed,  for  no  sooner  did  the  band  strike 
up  the  cheery  notes  of  "Garryowen,"  and  the  squadrons  advance 
to  the  charge,  tlian  the  Indians  exhibited  unmistakable  signs  of 
commotion,  and  their  resistance  became  more  feeble,  until  finally 
satisfied  of  the  earnestness  of  our  attack  they  turned  their  ponies' 
heads  and  began  a  disorderly  flight.  The  cavalry  put  spurs  to  their 
horses  and  dashed  forward  in  pursuit,  the  various  troop  and  squad- 
ron commanders  vying  with  one  another  as  to  who  should  head  the 
advance.  The  appearance  of  the  main  command  in  sight,  down  the 
valley  at  this  moment,  enabled  me  to  relieve  Captain  French's  com- 
mand below  us,  and  he  was  ordered  to  join  in  the  pursuit.  Lieu- 
tenant Mcintosh,  commanding  "  G  "  troop,  moved  his  command  up 
tlie  valley  at  a  gallop,  and  prevented  many  of  the  Indians  from  cross- 
ing     The  chase  was  continued  with  the  utmost  vigor  until  the  In- 


ArrEXCIX.  289 

dians  were  completely  dispersed,  and  driven  a  distance  of  nine  miles 
from  where  the  engagement  took  place,  and  they  were  here  forced 
hack  across  the  Yellowstone,  the  last  pony  killed  in  the  fight  being 
shot  fully  eight  miles  from  the  point  of  attack. 

The  number  of  Indians  opposed  to  us  has  been  estimated  by  the 
various  officers  engaged  as  from  eight  hundred  to  a  thousand.  My 
command  numbered  four  hundred  and  fifty,  including  ofiicers  and 
men.  The  Indians  were  made  up  of  diUcrent  bands  of  Sioux,  prin- 
cipally Uncpapas,  the  whole  under  command  of  "Sitting Bull,"  who 
participated  in  the  second  day's  fight,  and  who  for  once  has  been 
taught  a  lesson  he  will  not  soon  forget. 

A  large  number  of  Indians  who  fought  us  were  fresh  from  their 
reservations  on  the  Missouri  River.  Many  of  the  warriors  engaged 
in  the  fight  on  both  days  were  dressed  in  complete  suits  of  the  clothes 
issued  at  the  agencies  to  Indians.  The  arms  with  which  they  fought 
us  (several  of  which  were  captiu*ed  in  the  fight)  were  of  the  latest 
improved  patterns  of  breech-loading  repeating  rifles,  and  their  sup- 
ply of  metallic  rifle-cartridges  seemed  unlimited,  as  they  were  anj''- 
thing  but  sparing  in  their  use.  So  amply  have  they  been  supplied 
with  breech-loading  rifles  and  ammunition  that  neither  bov/s  nor 
aiTows  were  employed  against  us.  As  an  evidence  that  these  In- 
dians, at  least  many  of  them,  were  recently  from  the  Missouri  River 
agencies,  we  found  provisions,  such  as  coffee,  in  their  abandoned 
camps,  and  cooking  and  other  domestic  utensils,  such  as  only  reser- 
vation Indians  are  supplied  with.  Besides,  our  scouts  conversed  with 
them  across  the  river  for  nearly  an  hour  before  the  fight  became 
general,  and  satisfied  themselves  as  to  the  identity  of  their  foes.  1 
only  regret  that  it  was  impossible  for  my  command  to  effect  a  cross- 
ing of  the  river  before  our  presence  was  discovered,  and  while  the 
hostile  village  was  located  near  at  hand,  as  I  am  confident  that  we 
could  have  largely  reduced  the  necessity  for  appropriation  for  In- 
dian supplies  the  coming  winter.  .  .  . 

The  losses  of  the  Indians  in  ponies  were  particularly  heavy,  while 
we  know  their  losses  in  killed  and  wounded  were  beyond  all  propor- 
tion to  that  which  they  were  enabled  to  inflict  upon  us,  our  losses 
I)eing  one  ofllcer  badly  wounded,  four  men  killed,  and  three  wound- 
ed ;  four  horses  killed  and  four  wounded. 

Careful  investigation  justifies  the  statement  that  including  both 

13 


290  ArPEXDIX. 

days'  battles,  the  Indians'  losses  will  number  forty  warriors,  while 
their  vrounded  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river  may  increase  this 
number.  Respectfully  submitted. 

(Signed)         G.  A.  Custer, 

Lieutenant-colonel  7th  Cavahy, 
Brevet-major-general,  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 


"Stockatle"  ou  the  Yellowstone,  Septeinljer  C,  1S73. 

...  I  know  you  will  rejoice  when  your  eyes  fall  upon  the  date 
and  heading  of  this  letter,  and  you  learn  that  we  are  thus  far  on  our 
homeward  journc}',  all  safe  and  well.  This  letter  is  to  be  a  short 
one  (after  having  finished  the  letter  I  underscore  the  word),  as  it 
has  only  been  decided  a  few  hours  ago  to  despatch  three  of  our  In- 
dian scouts  from  here  to  Fort  Buf ord — one  hundred  and  twenty  miles 
distant  by  river,  only  eighty  by  land — with  mail,  and  to  bring  back 
what  awaits  us  in  return.  As  there  are  many  ofBcial  matters  for  me 
to  attend  to  between  now  and  to-morrow  morning — the  time  of  the 
departure  of  the  scouts — I  do  not  hope  to  give  you  but  the  main 
points  of  a  letter,  the  details  to  be  filled  up  by  word  of  mouth. 

I  am  here  with  six  companies  of  cavalry,  having  separated  from 
the  main  expedition  several  days  ago  on  the  Mussel  Shell  River,  and 
marched  to  this  point  direct,  a  distance  of  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  miles.  The  mules  of  the  large  trains  began  giving  out;  forage 
was  almost  exhausted,  the  horses  being  allowed  only  about  three 
pounds  per  day,  fourteen  pounds  being  regular  allowance.  The 
country  was  entirely  unknown;  no  guides  knew  anything  of  the 

route  before  us.     General did  not  think  it  wise  to  venture  into 

the  unknown  and  uninviting  region  with  his  command.  But  I  did 
not  feel  inclined  to  yield  to  obstacles,  and  made  an  application  to 
take  the  main  portion  of  the  cavalry  and  strike  through  for  the  stock- 
ade direct  instead  of  turning  back.  I  asked  that  the  railroad  engin- 
eers be  allowed  to  continue  with  me.  Consent  was  given  and  we 
started. 

At  head-quarters  it  was  not  believed  that  I  would  get  through. 
So  strong  was  this  impression,  that  in  the  official  order  issued  for  my 
movement  there  was  a  clause  authorizing  me  to  burn  or  abandon  all 


APPENDIX.  291 

my  wagons  or  other  public  property,  if,  in  my  opinion,  such  steps 
were  necessary  to  preserve  life.  I  could  not  help  but  smile  to  mj-self 
as  I  read  that  portion  of  the  order.  I  had  no  idea  of  burning  or 
abandoning  a  wagon.  After  we  had  separated  from  the  main  column, 
the  chief  of  the  engineers  remarked  to  the  officers,  "  How  positively 
sanguine  the  general  is  that  he  will  make  this  trip  successfully." 
And  so  I  was.  I  assured  him  from  the  first,  and  from  day  to  day, 
that  the  7th  Cavalry  would  bring  them  through  all  right.  We  had 
the  good-luck  to  strike  across  and  encounter,  instead  of  serious  ob- 
stacles, the  most  favorable  country  yet  met  by  us  for  marching. 
Hitherto  we  had  made  about  fifteen  miles  per  day ;  when  we 
started  on  this  trip  we  marched  twentj^-two  miles  one  day  and  thirty- 
five  the  next,  and  so  on,  and  brought  in  every  wagon  with  which 
we  started,  reaching  here  about  seven  o'clock  the  morning  of  the 
sixth  day  from  our  separation. 

The  main  command  headed  back  towards  the  Yellowstone,  and 
expects  to  be  twelve  or  thirteen  days  in  making  the  trip.  I  am 
going  to  send  an  officer  with  his  squadron  in  charge  of  fourteen 
wagons  loaded  with  forage  to  the  relief  of  the  rest  of  the  com- 
mand. 

Our  location  for  next  winter  is  settled.  We  shall  be  at  Fort  Lin- 
coln, and  the  decision  is  satisfactory  to  me.  I  presume  you  wish  you 
were  here  to  give  the  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  battalion*  a  little  ad- 
vice as  to  what  companies  shall  be  designated  for  each  station.  So 
far  as  this  reason  alone  is  concerned,  I  am  glad  that  you  are  not  here, 
as  I  not  only  would  not  wish  j^ou  to  attempt  to  influence  such  a  de- 
cision, but  that  no  person  or  persons  might  have  just  ground  for 
imagining  that  you  had  done  so.  The  officers  are  hinting  strongly 
in  the  endeavor  to  ascertain  "  Who  goes  where?"  but  thus  far  none 
are  any  the  wiser,  for  the  simple  reason  that  I  have  not  decided  the 
matter  yet  in  the  case  of  a  single  troop. 

It  is  a  delicate,  and  in  some  respects  an  undesirable  task,  as  all,  so 
far  as  I  know,  desire  (o  go  to  Fort  Lincoln.  If  no  accident  occurs, 
we  shall  reach  there  before  October  1st — less  than  a  month  from 
tliis  date,  and  probably  less  than  ten  days  from  the  time  you  receive 
this,  so  that  all  your  anxiety  about  me  will  be  at  an  end.     I  do  not 

•  This  reference  is  to  himself. 


292  APFEXDIX. 

intend  to  relax  my  caution  on  the  marcli  between  here  and  Lincoln, 
as  I  do  not  forget  that  the  two  officers  killed  last  year  met  their  deaths 
near  the  close  of  the  expedition. 

I  think  I  told  you  in  my  letter  of  eighty  pages  about  my  chasing 
elk  four  miles  and  killing  three.  Since  then  I  have  had  the  good- 
fortune  to  kill  a  tine  large  buck-elk  taller  than  "Dandy,"*  weighing, 
cleaned,  eight  hundred  pounds,  and  with  the  handsomest  pair  of 
antlers  I  ever  saw,  and  such  a  beautiful  coat.  I  killed  him  only  a 
mile  and  a  half  from  camp,  sent  for  a  wagon,  and  carried  him  entire 
back  with  us,  when  the  officers  and  men,  and  even  those  belonging 
to  the  scientific  party,  flocked  to  the  grassy  plot  in  front  of  my  tent 
to  see  him. 

The  photographer  who  accompanied  the  scientists  hitched  up  his 
photograph-wagon  and  drove  over  to  take  a  picture  of  what  they 
called  the  "King  of  the  Forest."  All  the  officers  and  the  photog- 
rapher insisted  that  not  only  the  game  but  the  hunter  should  appear 
in  the  picture.  So  I  sat  down,  dressed  as  I  was  in  my  buckskins, 
resting  one  hand  on  an  antler,  and  you  may  judge  of  the  immense 
size  of  the  elk  when  I  tell  you  that  as  I  sat  there  my  head  only 
reached  to  about  half  the  height  of  the  antlers.  The  picture  is  to 
form  one  of  the  series  now  being  collected  on  the  expedition  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Smithsonian  Institute. 

Since  the  expedition  started  I  have  become  acquainted  with  the 
gentlemen  of  the  scientific  corps,  particularly  with  the  zoologist  and 
the  taxidermist.  The  latter  has  been  kind  enough  to  make  me  a 
pupil  of  his,  and  I  can  now  preserve  animals  for  all  practical  pur- 
poses. I  have  been  able  to  supply  the  gentlemen  referred  to  with 
many  specimens  of  animals,  and,  in  return,  they  have  not  onl}^ 
taught  me  but  supplied  me  with  all  the  means  necessary  to  preserve 
prepared  animals. 

You  should  see  how  very  devoted  I  am  to  this,  to  me,  very  pleas- 
ant and  interesting  pastime.  Often,  after  marching  all  day,  a  light 
may  be  seen  in  my  tent  long  after  the  entire  camp  is  asleep,  and  a 
looker-on  might  see  me,  with  sleeves  rolled  above  the  elbow,  busily 
engaged  preparing  the  head  of  some  animal  killed  in  the  chase.  As- 
sisting me  might  be  seen  the  orderly  and  Hughes,  both,  from  their 

•  His  favorite  huntiDg-horse. 


Ari'EXDIX.  293 

sleepy  looks,  seeming  to  say,  "How  much  longer  are  we  to  be  kept 
out  of  our  beds?" 

I  have  succeeded  so  well  in  taxidermy  that  I  can  take  the  head 
and  neck  of  an  antelope,  fresh  from  the  body,  and  in  two  hours  have 
it  fully  ready  for  preservation.  I  have  prepared  a  most  beautiful 
buck-antelope  head  and  ueck  for  Tom.  He  intends  it  for  his  sweet- 
heart, and  will  send  it  by  express  from  Bismarck. 

I  have  just  finished  heads  for  two  officers,  which  they  intend  as 
presents  for  their  wives,  and  one  I  shall  give  to  the  Audubon  Club. 
Then  I  have  the  heads  of  tvv^o  black-tailed  deer,  of  a  buck  and  doe 
antelope  for  us,  and  the  head  and  skin  with  claws  of  a  grisly-bear. 
The  latter  is  not  thoroughly  cured,  owing  to  our  constant  marching 
and  the  immense  amount  of  fat  contained  in  the  neck  and  hide.  The 
ne plus  ultra  of  all  is  the  "King  of  the  Forest."  I  have  succeeded 
in  preserving  him  entire — antlers,  head,  neck,  body,  legs,  and  hoofs — 
in  fine  condition,  so  that  he  can  be  mounted  and  look  exactly  as  in 
I'fe.  To  prevent  the  hair  being  rubbed,  I  have  caused  the  head  to 
be  well  covered  with  grain-sacks,  and  this,  with  the  entire  skin,  to  be 
sewed  up  securely  in  canvas. 

The  scientists  informed  me  that  there  were  but  few  specimens  on 
this  continent  of  elk  preserved  entire,  and  none  so  fine  as  mine. 
When  I  first  began  work  on  it  I  only  intended  to  save  the  head, 
ueck,  and  antlers,  but  finding  tliat  I  was  able  to  save  the  whole,  I 
decided  upon  the  latter  course.  Had  I  kept  the  head  and  ueck  only, 
it  was  intended  for  you ;  but  having  it  complete  alters  my  intention, 
as  it  would  require  a  room  to  contain  it.  So  I  have  concluded, 
with  your  approval,  to  present  it  to  the  Audubon  Club  in  Detroit.* 

I  have  a  fine  buffalo  head  for  you,  beautifully  haired  and  with 
symmetrical  horns.  A  pair  of  sage-chickens,  a  pair  of  curlew,  and  a 
jack-rabbit  complete  my  present  collection.  .  ,  . 

One  day  I  shot  three  antelope  without  changing  my  position, 
the  nearest  of  the  three  being  three  hundred  and  twenty  yards  from 
me. 

Our  mess  continues  to.  be  successful.  Nearly  every  day  we  have 
something  nice  to  send  to  Lieutenant  Braden.f    Only  think  of  him, 

•  It  is  now  in  Detroit. 

t  Lieutenant  Rrudun  was  wounded  in  the  battle  described  iu  tlieofSciul  report 
which  accompanies  this  letter. 


294  APPEXDIX. 

with  liis  shattered  thigh,  having  to  trail  over  a  rough  country  for 
three  hundred  miles!  He  is  not  transported  in  an  ambulance,  but  a 
long  stretcher  arranged  on  wheels  about  thirty  feet  apart,  pulled  and 
pushed  b}'  men  on  foot.  They  carry  him  much  more  steadily  than 
would  horses  or  mules.  It  requires  a  full  company  of  men  each 
day  to  transport  Mr.  Braden  in  this  way.  He  is  with  the  main  com- 
mand, but  was  doing  well  when  we  left.  The  day  the  command 
divided  I  had  the  band  take  a  position  near  the  route  where  the  rest 
of  the  expedition  would  pass,  and  when  he  and  his  escort  approached 
they  struck  up  "Garryowen."  He  acknowledged  the  attention  as 
well  as  he  could. 

Upon  our  arrival  here  what  was  our  joy  to  find  quite  a  large  mail 
awaiting  us!  It  had  been  forwarded  from  Rice  and  Lincoln  to  Fort 
Euford,  and  from  there  came  here  by  scouts.  I  received  four  letters 
from  you.  .  .  .  Do  you  know,  on  the  4th  of  August — the  very  day 
you  were  writing  me  one  of  the  letters  I  received — I  was  fighting, 
probably  at  the  same  time.  .  .  .  After  I  received  my  four  letters 
I  threw  mj'self  down  on  the  bed  to  read  them.  When  any  one 
poked  his  head  inside  my  large  and  comfortable  tent,  and  ventured 
a  question,  you  can  probably  imagine  the  brevity  and  abruptness  of 
a  certain  man's  replies.  My  communication  was  strictly  Biblical, 
being  either  "Yea,  yea,  or  Nay,  nay." 

East  Baiik  of  the  Yellowstone,  September  10th. 

.  .  .  When  I  began  my  letter,  a  few  days  ago,  announcing  our 
safe  return  to  the  stockade,  I  said  you  must  only  expect  a  few  lines ; 
but  those  few  lines  stretched  out  until  they  covered  five  sheets  of 
letter-paper.  I  could  now  cover  five  times  five  and  then  only  have 
begun  my  letter,  but  where  the  time  is  to  be  found  I  cannot  tell. 

We  are  just  taking  the  men  across  the  river  on  the  Josephine, 
which  arrived  yesterday.  My  head  -  quarters  and  about  half  the 
troops  are  over,  the  rest  will  have  followed  by  night.  As  Shel- 
don &  Co.,  publishers  of  the  Galaxy,  say,  I  am  going  to  "boil  down" 
this  letter  to  as  many  brief  allusions  as  possible. 

Instead  of  waiting  here  for  the  rest  of  the  command  to  move,  to- 
morrow will  find  us  on  our  way  to  Lincoln.  I  take  six  troops  of 
the  7th,  two  companies  of  infantry,  and  with  the  engineers  set  out 
on  our  return.     We  rely  confidently  on  reaching  Lincoln  before 


APPENDIX.    •  295 

October  1st.  The  reports  brought  by  those  who  came  on  the  boat 
place  everything  in  a  bright  light  regarding  our  new  quarters  at 
Lincoln. 

I  think  we  will  have  a  charming  garrison  tliis  winter.  I  wish  we 
had  some  one  corupetent  to  give  us  lessons  in  private  theatricals.  I 
learn  by  the  boat  that  Department  Head-quarters  have  telegraphed 
to  Lincoln  Ihat  it  is  possible  I  may  wish  to  take  a  long  leave.  They 
almost  take  it  for  granted  I  will  go,  but  I  shall  not.  Do  you  remem- 
ber, on  my  return  from  the  Washita  campaign,  I  was  offered  a  leave 
in  a  similar  manner  ?  I  have  no  desire  to  be  absent  from  my  post 
now.  .  .  . 

I  have  enjoyed  a  few  very  great  luxuries  to-day.  At  dinner,  on 
the  Josephine,  for  the  tirst  time  this  season  (September  10th)  I  tasted 
new  potatoes  and  cucumbers ;  but  these  were  not  the  greatest.  What 
do  you  imagine  Avas  a  greater  luxury  ?  KAW  ONIONS  !  !  !  i* 
Even  at  this  great  distance  I  almost  tremble  when  I  inform  you 
that  I  not  only  had  onions  for  dinner,  but  the  captain  of  the  boat 
gave  me  a  whole  bushel  of  fine  large  ones.  I  supped  on  RAW 
ONIONS ;  I  will  probably  breakfast,  lunch,  and  dine  on  them  to- 
morrow, and  the  next  day,  and  the  day  after  ad  libitum  ad  infuiiium, 
until — not  time,  but  onions — shall  be  no  more.  As  one  by  one  I  dis- 
pose of  each  goodly-sized  fragment  of  a  huge  onion,  I  remark,  sotto 
voce/' Go  it,  old  fellow!  Make  the  most  of  your  liberties!  You  are 
on  the  home- stretch  now,  and  school  soon  commences;"  in  other 
words,  "  If  you  intend  to  cat  raw  onions,  now  is  j'our  only  time,  for 
'missus  is  comin'.'" 

I  w^ould  be  glad  to  have  every  one  of  the  officers  now  with  me 
stationed  at  my  post.  My  relations  with  them,  personal  and  official, 
are  extremely  agreeable.  They  are  all  counting  on  going  to  Lincoln, 
but  I  know  some  of  them  will  have  to  be  disappomted.  .  .  . 

The  steamer  Josephine  will  probably  leave  for  Lincoln  to-morrow 
or  next  day,  and  should  reach  there  in  four  or  five  days,  so  that  you 
should  receive  this  letter  in  about  one  week.  .  .  .  The  steamer 
brought  me  two  splendid  letters  from  you,  one  dated  the  18th,  an- 
other the  25th  of  August.  I  received  them  on  the  9lh,  which  is 
pretty  quick,  considering.  .  .  . 

•  I  have  copied  llie  worda  as  he  piiuted  tbera. 


293  APPENDIX. 

My  collection  of  geological  specimens  for  the  Michigan  University 
is  growing  satisfactorily.  The  Indian  battles  hindered  the  work  of 
collecting,  while  in  that  immediate  region  it  was  unsafe  to  go  far 
from  the  command.  .  .  . 

P. S.— Good-morning!  .  .  .  I  am  sitting  in  my  large,  comfortable 
teat,  writing  before  breakfast.  And  now  I  must  refer  to  a  matter 
which  thrusts  itself  upon  my  attention  almost  daily,  yes,  hourly,  and 
that  is  the  great  degree  of  comfort  which  I  have  enjoyed  through- 
out this  long  and  ever-changing  march;  and  it  is  all  due  to  your 
thoughtfulness  and  foresight,  and  the  manner  in  which  you  fitted  me 
•jp  surpasses  all  my  comrades.  No  mess  has  compared  with  mine 
in  its  appointments  and  outfit.  I  have  the  best  cook,  and  certainly 
no  bed  can  equal  mine.  Whenever  I  look  around  me  I  see  the  evi- 
dences of  your  handiwork  and  care  for  my  welfare.  .  .  . 

You  never  knew  people  more  enthusiastic  over  the  7th  than  the 
engineers  connected  with  the  railroad  party.  .  .  .  Well,  I  must  ter- 
minate this  letter,  as  I  see  no  likelihood  of  my  being  able  to  tell 
you  one- tenth  of  what  I  have  to  say.  However,  we  will  have  all 
winter  in  our  "brand,  spankiu' "  new  house  to  talk  it  over  and 
over.  .  .  . 

Here  I  have  reached  my  thirty-second  page  of  this  large  paper. 
I  only  thought  of  writing  three  or  four,  and  have  "  boiled  down  "  as 
h.ard  as  I  could.  .  .  . 

Foit  Liucohi,  September  23,  1ST3. 

.  .  .  Where  are  the  numerous  bridges  now  w^hich  you  have  been 
crossing  and  recrossing  in  regard  to  our  return  being  delayed  until 
late  in  October,  perhaps  until  the  first  of  November?  Well,  here  we 
are,  not  only  "  as  good  as  new,"  but,  if  anything,  heartier,  healthier, 
and  more  robust  than  ever. 

I  have  not  drawn  a  single  unhealthy  breath  since  we  started  on 
the  expedition,  and  if  ever  a  lot  of  hardy,  strong,  and  athletic  young 
fellows  were  assembled  in  one  party,  it  is  to  be  seen  in  a  group  of 
the  officers  of  the  7th.  What  a  history  and  reputation  this  7th  Cav- 
alry has  achieved  for  itself!  Although  a  new  and  young  regiment, 
it  has  left  all  the  older  fellows  in  the  lurch,  until  to-day  it  is  the  best 
and  most  widely  known  of  any  in  the  service. 

I  am  provoked  to  think  I  wrote  you  a  long  letter  on  the  Yellow- 


APPENDIX.  297 

stone,  also  a  telegram,  and  intrusted  them  to  an  ofBcer  who  was  to 
take  passage  in  the  steamer  Josephine,  and  leave  about  the  time  we 
did.  It  should  have  reached  here  several  days  before  we  arrived, 
but  I  took  six  troops  of  cavalry  and  the  engineers,  crossed  the  Yel- 
lowstone to  this  side,  and  reached  Fort  Lincoln  in  eight  daj's. 

"We  took  everybody  by  surprise,  and  beat  the  steamer  here,  so  that 
your  letter  and  telegram  are  still  on  the  boat  somewhere  between 
this  point  and  the  stockade.  You  may  rely  upon  it  that  no  grass 
grew  under  our  feet  on  our  return  march.  I  knew  that  my  family 
— consisting  of  one — was  in  advance  somewhere,  and,  as  the  saying 
is,  I  just  " lit  out."*  I  am  so  comfortably  fixed  in  my  large,  heavy 
canvas  railroad  tent  that  was  given  me  on  the  expedition,  I  am  sure 
that  you  and  I  could  live  comfortably  in  it  all  winter. 

I  am  much  pleased  with  the  appearance  of  the  citizens  who  have 
ome  across  the  river  from  Bismarck  to  pay  their  respects  and  offer 
congratulations  on  the  summer's  campaign.  Some  of  the  Yankton 
gentlemen  are  here  attending  court,  and  they  also  came  over  to  see 
me. 

I  have  just  had  a  telegram  from  General  Sheridan:  "Welcome 
home." 

Fort  Liucoln,  September  2S,  1ST3. 
.  .  .  When  you  find  that  I  have  just  sent  the  7th  Cavalry  band 

to  serenade on  his  departure,  you  will  say  to  yourself,  ' '  He  has 

been  too  forgiving  again."  Well,  perhaps  I  have.  I  often  think  of 
the  beautiful  expression  uttered  by  President  Lincoln  at  the  conse- 
cration of  the  Gettysburg  monument,  and  feel  how  nearly  it  expresses 
my  belief,  "  With  malice  toward  none,  with  charity  for  all!"  and  I 
hope  this  will  ever  be  mine  to  say.f 


'  Here  follows  a  de.-cription  of  Fort  Lincoln.  His  p;ui;;iiine  temperament 
made  it  seem  little  short  of  an  earthly  paradise.  He  did  not  seem  to  realize  that 
the  pro.xaic  and  plain  Government  buildings  were  placed  on  a  treeless  and  barren 
plain.  In  a  carefnlly  prepared  plan  of  our  house  whicli  he  had  drawn,  he  gave 
the  dimensions  and  desciijjtion  of  each  room,  and  over  the  door  of  his  library  .1 
triple  underlining  of  his  words,  "  JIY  KOOM,"  and  the  motto,  "  Wlio  enters  here 
loaves  hope  behind."  He  thus  began,  before  we  had  even  occupied  the  house, 
playfully  to  threaten  any  one  who  disturbed  his  writing  or  studies. 

t  The  officer  to  whom  refoience  is  made  had  been  a  persistent  and  exasperat- 
ing enemy  of  my  husband  during  the  summer,  aud  I  could  not  forget  or  forgive, 

O 


SI'S  APPEXDIX. 

Adopting  your  wise  and  deserved  suggestion,  I  have  at  last  written 
my  long  dclaj-ed  letter  to  Mr.  Ford,  and  among  other  things  told 
him  I  would  send  him  per  express  the  skins  of  two  young  elk  that  I 
killed,  to  have  them  tanned,  and  a  pair  of  shoes  made  for  each  of  us. 
So,  you  see,  I  did  as  1  generally  do,  obeyed  my  "  other  half,"  who  nine 
times  out  of  ten  is  right,  and  generally  the  tenth  time,  too. 

During  a  halt  of  two  days,  just  before  we  started  for  home,  I  wrote 
a  long  Galaxy  article,  and  shall  mail  it  with  this.  Not  only  did  1  do 
that  instead  of  resting,  because  of  the  appeals  of  the  magazine  editors, 
but  it  behooved  me  to  get  off  my  contributions  with  some  regularity; 
for  if  I  stop  now,  those  who  attribute  them  to  you  would  say  all  the 
more  it  was  because  you  were  not  along  to  do  the  work  for  me.  If 
people  only  knew  the  amusement  they  have  afforded  us  by  laying 
the  responsibility  of  these  articles  on  your  shoulders. 

I  must  not  forget  to  tell  you  that  during  the  expedition  I  killed 
with  my  rifle  and  brought  into  camp  forty-one  antelope,  four  buffa- 
lo, four  elk,  seven  deer  (four  of  them  black-tails),  two  white  wolves, 
and  one  red  fox. 

Geese,  ducks,  prairie-chickens,  and  sage-hens  without  number  com- 
pleted my  summer's  record. 

No  one  assisted  me  in  killing  the  antelope,  deer,  or  elk,  except  one 
'  of  the  latter. 

One  porcupine  and  a  wildcat  I  brought  in  alive.  Both  of  these 
amiable  creatures  I  intend  to  send  to  Central  Park.  .  .  . 


LETTERS  FROM  TEE  BLACK  HILLS,  1ST4. 

TJie  foUoiL'big  Extracts  are  taken  from  Letters  sent  from  trie  Fxpedilion  to 
the  Black  Hills,  referred  to  in  Chapter  XX. 

Thirteen  Miles  from  Fort  Lincoln,  J;ily  3,  1S74. 

.  .  .  Yesterday  was  a  hard  day  on  the  trains.  The  recent  rains 
had  so  softened  the  ground  that  the  heavily-loaded  wagons  sunk  to 
the  hubs,  and  instead  of  getting  in  camp  by  noon  as  we  expected, 
one  battalion  did  not  get  in  until  after  dark.     But  we  had  a  good 

even  after  apologies  were  offered,  e.-^pecially  as  tbey  were  not  offered  in  the  pres- 
ence of  others. 


APPENDIX.  299 

diuuer,  and  every  one  is  feeling  well  this  morning.  I  am  making  a 
late  start  in  order  to  give  the  mules  a  chance  to  graze. 

I  send  you  by  hearer  a  joung  curlew,  as  a  playmate  to  the  wild- 
goose.  Should  it  live,  its  wings  had  better  be  clipped.  Gras,shoppers 
are  its  principal  diet. 

Our  mess  is  a  great  success.  Last  night,  notwithstanding  the  late 
hour  at  which  we  reached  camp,  Johnson,  our  new  colored  cook, 
had  hot  biscuit,  and  this  morning  hot  cakes  and  biscuit.  AYe  will 
not  be  over  twenty  or  twenty-five  miles  from  the  post  to-night.  The 
men  are  standing  around  vraiting  to  take  down  the  tents,  so  I  must 
say  good-bye. 

Prospect  Valley,  Dakota, 
Twelve  miles  from  the  Moutan<a  Hue,  Jul}'  15th. 

.  .  .  We  are  making  a  halt  of  one  day  at  this  charming  spot,  in 
order  to  rest  the  animals  and  give  the  men  an  opportunity  to  wash 
their  clothes.  I  will  begin  by  saying  everything  is  and  has  been 
perfectl}'  satisfactory.  Every  one — otncers,  men,  and  citizens — are  in 
the  best  of  health  and  spirits. 

We  have  marched  through  an  exceedingly  interesting  country. 
We  are  now  m  the  most  beautiful  valley  we  have  seen  thus  far,  and 
encamped  on  a  small  tributary  of  the  Little  Missouri,  and  about  five 
miles  from  the  latter.  So  beautiful  did  this  place  seem  to  us  when 
we  first  came  in  sight  of  it,  I  directed  the  engineer-officer,  who  is 
making  a  map  of  the  country,  to  call  it  Prospect  Valley. 

Three  days  ago  we  reached  the  cave  referred  to,  before  we  started, 
by  the  Indian  called  "Goose."  It  was  found  to  be  about  four  hun- 
dred feet  long,  and  just  as  he  described,  the  walls  and  top  covered 
with  inscriptions  and  drawings.  The  prints  of  hands  and  feet  are 
also  in  the  rocks.  I  think  this  wr.s  all  the  work  of  Indians  at  an 
early  day,  although  I  cannot  satisfactorily  account  for  the  drawings 
of  ships  found  there. 

"Bos,"*  though  this  is  his  first  expedition,  takes  to  life  on  the 
plains  as  natural!}^  as  if  bred  to  it.  One  of  the  officers  says  he  thinks 
it  must  "run  in  the  blood."  lie  has  to  go  through  the  usual  expe- 
rience that  falls  to  all  "  plebs."  Every  one  practises  jokes  on  him, 
but  he  has  such  a  good  disposition  it  docs  not  even  ruffle  him.     I 


Our  younger  brotha:. 


:iOO  APPENDIX. 

know  that  you  Trould  espouse  his  cause  against  us  if  you  had  seen 
him  take  some  bits  of  rocks  out  of  his  pocket  every  night  after  we 
bad  reached  camp,  and  put  them  to  soak  in  his  wash-basin.  They 
were  given  to  him  by  Tom,  who  assured  him  that  they  were  sponge 
stone — a  variety  that  softened  by  keeping  them  in  water  for  a  cer- 
tain length  of  time.  After  a  few  nights  of  faithful  practice  it  dawned 
upon  him  that  he  was  again  the  victim  of  a  practical  joke,  and  he 
quietly  dropped  them  by  the  way  without  saying  a  word.  You  need 
not  trouble  yourself  to  take  up  arms  in  his  defence,  for  he  gets  even 
with  us  in  the  long-run. 

He  has  been  so  pleased  with  his  mule  from  the  first,  and  has  praised 
him  to  me  repeatedly.  He  ^.s  a  good  animal,  for  a  mule,  but  endur- 
ance, in  his  constitution,  rather  triumphs  over  speed.  I  could  not 
resist  taking  advantage  of  the  country  to  play  a  trick  on  "Bos" 
one  day. 

The  land  was  undulating,  and  you  know  how  it  always  seems  as 
if  one  could  surely  see  for  miles  beyond  vv'hen  the  top  of  each  divide 
is  reached,  and  how  one  can  go  on  all  day  over  the  constant  rise  and 
fall  of  the  earth,  thinking  the  next  divide  will  reveal  a  vast  stretch 
of  country.  "Bos"  rode  beside  me,  and  I  invented  an  excuse  to  go 
in  advance  ;  I  mad^'  "  Vic  "  gallop  slowly  over  the  divide,  and  when 
out  of  sight  on  the  otlier  side  I  put  spurs  to  him  and  dashed  through 
the  low  ground.  'When  "Eos"  came  in  sight  I  was  slowly  ambling 
up  the  next  divide  and  calling  to  him  to  come  on.  He  spurred  his 
mule,  shouted  to  him,  and  waved  his  arms  and  legs  to  incite  him  to 
a  faster  gait.  V/hen  he  nearcd  me  I  disappeared  over  another  divide, 
and  giving  ' '  Vic  "  the  rein  only  slackened  speed  when  it  became  time 
for  "Eos  "  to  appear.  Then,  when  I  had  brought  my  horse  down  to  a 
Vvfalk  I  called  out,  "  \Yhy  on  earth  don't  you  come  on?"  Believing 
that  the  gait  he  saw  me  take  had  been  unvarying,  he  could  not  under- 
stand why  I  lengthened  the  distance  between  us  so  rapidly.  I  kept 
this  up  until  he  discovered  my  joke,  and  I  was  obliged  to  ride  back  to 
join  him  and  suit  "Vic's  "  steps  to  those  of  his  exhausted  mule.  .  .  . 

No  Indians  or  signs  of  Indians  were  seen  from  the  time  we  left 
Lincoln  until  the  day  before  yesterday,  when  about  twenty  were  dis- 
covered near  the  column.  They  scampered  off  as  soon  as  observed. 
Yesterday  we  came  v/here  they  had  slept.  The  officer  on  rear-guard 
duty  saw  about  twentj-five  following  our  trail. 


APPENDIX.  301 

Signal  smokes  were  sent  up  all  around  us  yesterday  afternoon  by 
the  Indians,  and  some  were  seen  watching  us  after  we  reached  camp, 
but  no  hostile  demonstrations  have  been  made.  Our  Indian  guides 
say  the  signals  may  be  intended  to  let  the  village  know  where  we 
are,  so  that  they  may  keep  out  of  our  wn3\  .  .  . 

We  expect  to  reach  the  base  of  the  Black  Hills  in  about  three 
days.  Professor  Winchell  and  jNIr.  Grinnell  discovered  yesterday 
the  fossil  remains  of  an  animal  belonging  to  some  extinct  race  which 
in  life  exceeded  in  size  the  largest  elephant.  .  .  . 

I  am  gradually  fonning  my  annual  menagerie.  I  have  one  live 
rattlesnake— for  Agnes* — two  jack -rabbits,  half  grown,  one  eagle, 
and  four  owls.  I  had  also  two  fine  badgers,  full  grown,  but  they 
were  accidentally  smothered.  .  .  . 

These  are  the  first  lines  I  have  written  since  my  last  letter  to  you, 
nearly  a  fortnight  since,  and  you  cannot  imagine  how  tired  my  hand 
and  arm  have  become  already.  I  have  made  no  attempt  to  write 
on  the  march ;  the  short  time  I  have  after  reaching  camp  every  day 
is  devoted  to  rest  and  sleep.  .  .  . 

General  "Sandy"  is  delighted  with  th3  7th  Cavalry;  he  says  no 
regiment  compares  with  it  except  perhaps  the  4th.  There  has  not 
been  a  single  card-party  nor  a  drunken  officer  since  we  left  Lin- 
coln. ... 

Our  mess  is  a  decided  and  gratifying  success.  Johnson  is  not 
only  an  excellent  cook  but  very  prompt.  We  breakfast  at  four 
o'clock  every  morning.  Every  day  I  invite  some  officer  to  dine 
with  us. 

I  remember  your  wishes  and  ride  at  the  head  of  the  cobanin. 
keeping  inside  our  lines  all  the  time,  although  it  is  a  great  depriva- 
tion to  me  not  to  go  outside  and  hunt.  I  feel  exactly  like  some 
young  lady  extremely  fond  of  dancing,  who,  having  a  cold,  has  been 
forbidden  by  her  anxious  mamma  to  do  more  than  look  on  at  some 
elegant  party.  I  received  my  orders  from  my  commanding  officer 
before  starting,  and  I  am  going  to  try  and  render  strict  obedience,  f 

*  This  was  ouv  youiii;  vi-^itor,  whose  hon-or  cf  snnkes  Geimral  Custer  well 
knew. 

t  This  refei-encc  to  comraniuliiicc  officer  meniU  his  wife,  wliose  nnlhority  ouly 
extended  to  jn-ecautionary  instinctions  ns  to  his  safety  and  health.  The  reitem* 
led  petition  was  tliat  he  should  never  leave  the  colnmn  nlone. 


302  APPEXDIX. 

,  .  .  lu  lookiug  for  a  road  I  sometimes  get  a  mile  or  perhaps 
two  ahead  of  the  command,  but  I  always  have  seventy  or  eighty 
men  with  me,  and  after  to-day  I  mean  to  take  in  addition  two  more 
companies.  I  have  no  intention  of  getting  beyond  sight  and  hear- 
ing of  the  main  column.  There  is  an  advance-guard  always,  and 
the  Indian  scouts  at  the  front  and  on  the  flanks.  .  .  . 

I  have  killed  six  antelope  at  the  head  of  the  command.  .  , 
Only  think !  one-fifth  of  the  time  expired  day  before  yesterday,  and 
by  the  time  this  reaches  you  one-third  of  our  time  of  separation 
will  have  passed. 

We  will  not  be  delayed  in  our  return  later  than  I  expected  when 
we  left  Fort  Lincoln.  .  .  . 

As  I  write,  the  dogs  surround  me  :  "  Cardigan  "  is  sleeping  on  the 
edge  of  my  bed, "  Tuck  "  at  the  head,  and  "  Blilchcr  "  near  by.  .  .  . 
I  am  not  certain  whether  I  will  be  able  to  send  back  more  scouts 
or  not.  This  mail  is  to  be  carried  by  two  Rees,  Bull  Bear  and 
Skunk's  Head.     Bloody  Knife  is  doing  splendidly  on  this  trip. 

There  is  not  a  single  man  on  the  sick-report  in  this  entire  com- 
mand—^a  fact  which  the  medical  officer  regards  as  unprecedented. 
.  .  .  "We  will  move  into  the  valley  of  the  Little  Missouri  to-morrow, 
and  probably  follow  that  stream  to  the  Black  Hills.  You  may  judge 
of  the  fine  country  we  have  passed  over  by  the  fact  that  our  mules 
and  beef  -  herd  have  actually  improved  since  we  left  Lincoln.  We 
have  travelled  two  hundred  and  twenty-seven  and  a  half  miles,  and 
in  a  straight  line  we  axe  one  hundred  and  seventy  miles  from  Lin- 
coln.    I  must  stop  now,  and  write  my  official  report. 

Camp  near  Ilaruey's  Peak,  August  2, 1S74. 

I  wish  you  could  see  me  at  this  moment  as  I  am  prepared  to  write 
to  you.  First  I  must  tell  you  that  I  cannot  send  a  very  long  letter 
— not  that  I  have  not  volumes  to  say  to  you,  but  for  reasons  which 
I  will  briefly  explain.  In  the  evening,  after  reaching  camp,  I  am 
too  much  occupied  and  have  too  much  hard  work  to  find  time  to 
write.  After  dinner  I  usually  take  an  escort  and  search  out  a  few 
miles  of  road  for  the  following  day.  When  I  return  I  am  ready  to 
hasten  to  my  comfortable  bed.* 

*  Nothing  but  excessive  fatigue  and  a  determination  to  make  the  best  of  every- 
thing could  have  prompted  him  to  describe  it  as  comfortable.    On  the  first  day's 


AITEXDIX.  303 

We  have  reveille  regularly  at  a  quarter  before  three,  so  that  it  bc- 
Ijooves  one  to  get  to  bed  as  earl}''  as  possible.  .  .  .  To-day  has  beea 
letter-day.  Charlie  Reynolds  leaves  in  the  morning  with  the  mail 
for  Fort  Laramie.  I  am  going  to  explore  some  twenty-five  or  thir- 
ty miles  in  that  direction,  and  Rej^nolds  Tviil  go  with  me.  I  take 
tive  companies.  Tw^o  others  started  off  in  another  direction  this 
morning  to  be  absent  three  days;  so  you  see  they  are  kept  mov- 
ing. I  will  be  gone  three  days;  the  next  day  after  that  we  turn 
our  faces  northward  and  begin  our  homeward  march.  I  must  not 
forget  to  explain  the  other  reason  why  I  cannot  send  you  a  letter  of 
thirty  pages  or  so  this  time— one  of  those  that  Tom  calls  my  "little 
notes  "  to  you.  I  was  busy  with  tlie  office  duties  until  ten  to-day, 
and  then  I  began  my  official  report.  I  had  so  many  interruptions 
I  was  at  last  driven  to  print  "Engaged"  on  a  placard  and  pin  it 
on  the  front  of  my  tent ;  I  tied  up  the  flaps,  shutting  myself  in 
until  the  twentj'-two  pages  of  my  report  were  written. 

It  is  now  a  quarter  to  one.  Breakfast  is  at  four,  and  "Boots  and 
Saddles  "  will  sound  at  five.  I  wish  I  could  go  more  into  detail  in 
describing  the  expedition,  which  has  exceeded  all  previous  ones,  and 
in  success  has  surpassed  my  most  sanguine  expectations. 

I  did  not  hope  to  have  my  wagon-train  witli  me,  and  here  it  has 
followed  me  everywhere.  "We  have  discovered  a  ricli  and  beautiful 
country.  We  have  had  no  Indian  fights  and  will  have  none.  We 
have  discovered  gold  without  a  doubt,  and  probably  other  valuable 
metals.     All  are  well,  and  have  been  the  entire  trip. 

My  report,  which  3'ou  will  see,  will  contain  much  that  I  would 

have  sent  j-ou  in  a  letter.  .  .  . 

August  3il. 

P.S. —  .  .  .  We  have  marched  forty -five  miles  to-day,  in  a  souther- 
ly direction  from  Harney's  Peak,  and  are  now  encamped  on  the 
south  fork  of  the  Cheyenne  River,  about  ninety  miles  from  Fort 
Laramie.  Reynold.s"*  leaves  us  here.  We  are  now  all  seated  or  lying 
around  a  camp-fire,  writing  the  closing  words  to  our  letters.  .  .  . 

march  out  from  garrison  a  careless  soldier  forgot  the  three  boards  that  were  in- 
tended to  keep  the  bedding  from  absorbing  the  dampness  in  case  of  rain.  During 
the  entire  summer,  owing  to  this  piece  of  forgetfulness,  the  mattress  was  laid 
down  every  ni^'lit  on  ground  that  was  always  uneven   and  sometimes  wet. 

*  The  scout  mentioned  in  Chai)ter  XXVI.  It  was  on  this  trip  to  Fort  Laramie, 
carrying  the  despatches  and  mail,  that  he  suOcrcd  such  hardships  and  peril. 


304  APPENDIX. 

I  must  say  good-bye.  A  few  days  more  and  vrc  shall  be  at  home, 
for  Tre  start  north  at  five  o'clock  iu  the  morning.  .  .  . 

Beat-  Butte,  Dakotn,  August  15th. 

Though  Tre  shall  so  soon  be  at  home,  I  must  send  a  few  lines  by 
the  scout  who  takes  the  official  despatches.  I  cannot  tell  you  how 
busy  I  have  been,  and  how  hard  and  constantly  I  have  worked  to 
try  and  make  the  expedition  successful.  I  have  attempted  to  be 
several  other  things  besides  commanding-officer— particularly  guide 
— since  the  expedition  started. 

Xow  that  we  have  been  in  and  through  the  Black  Hills,  I  have  the 
satisfaction  of  knowing  that  the  whole  undertaking  has  proved  a 
success,  exceeding  the  expectations  of  the  most  sanguine.  I  think 
that  my  superior  officers  will  be  surprised  and  gratified  at  the  extent 
and  thoroughness  of  our  explorations.  .  .  . 

The  photographer  who  accompanied  us  has  obtained  a  complete 
set  of  magnificent  stereoscopic  views  of  Black  Hills  scenery,  so  I 
will  not  attempt  to  allude  to  this  lovely  country  until  I  can  review  it 
with  you  by  aid  of  the  photographs.  I  send  you  one  that  will  shoAv 
you  that  at  last  I  have  killed  a  grisly  after  a  most  exciting  hunt  and 
contest.  .  .  .  Colonel  Ludlow,  Bloody  Knife,  and  Private  Noonan  are 
with  me  in  the  group,  as  we  constituted  the  hunting-party.  The 
bear  measured  eight  feet.     I  have  his  claws. 

The  scouts  are  on  their  ponies  waiting  for  the  mail,  and  I  must 
hasten.  .  .  . 

It  would  have  been  such  a  treat  to  have  had  you  see  all  that  we 
have  seen  this  summer,  and  shared  the  enjoyment  of  this  beautiful 
land.  But,  never  mind,  you  shall  come  next  summer,  for  we  all  hope 
to  return  again.  .  .  . 

Xo  Indians  have  been  seen  lately,  but  I  intend  to  be  careful  until 
the  end  of  the  trip.  .  .  .       

LETTEES  FROM  THE  YELLOWSTONE,  ISTC. 

Extracts  from  Letters  written  o/i  the  Second  Erpcdilion  to  the  TeUoicstone, 
during  the  Summer  of  1876. 

Forty-sis  Miles  fnun  Fort  Lincolu, 
ilay  20tl),  1ST&— 9.15  r.M. 

...  It  has  just  been  decided  to  send  scouts  back  to  Lincoln. 
They  leave  here  at  daylight,  and  will  remain  there  thirty-six  hours. 


APPENDIX.  305 

returning  to  lis  with  despatches  and  mail.  We  are  having  the 
"parrot's  time "  with  the  expedition. 

It  is  raining  now,  and  has  been  since  we  started.  The  roads  are 
fearfully  bad.  Here  we  are  on  the  Little  iluddy,  after  marching 
four  days,  and  only  forty -six  miles  from  home.  Everybody  is  more 
or  less  disgusted  except  me,  and  I  feel  the  relief  of  not  having  to 
bear  the  responsibility  of  the  delays. 

The  elements  seem  against  us,  but  a  wet  season  and  bad  roads 
can  be  looked  for  alwaj's  in  this  region  in  the  months  of  ]\Iay  and 
June. 

We  have  not  seen  any  signs  of  Indians  thus  far,  and  hardly  look  for 
any  for  a  few  days  yet.  I  have  been  extremely  prudent— sufficiently 
so  to  satisfy  j'ou.  I  go  nowhere  without  taking  an  escort  with  me. 
I  act  as  if  Indians  were  near  all  the  time.  The  mess  prospers  well. 
Tom  and  I  have  fried  onions  at  breakfast  and  dinner,  and  raw  onions 
for  lunch!"*  The  scouts  that  were  left  at  Lincoln  joined  us  j'ester- 
day  about  10  a.m.  with  the  mail.  I  vrish  that  j'ou  knew  how  good  it 
was  to  get  the  letters.  You  must  send  me  more  by  the  scouts  we 
send  out  to-morrow.  .  .  .  Since  beginning  this  letter  it  is  decided 
that  they  go  at  once,  for  I  know  it  is  best  to  get  them  out  of  camp 
at  night;  so  they  have  been  directed  to  saddle-up  immediately,  and 
I  must  therefore  cut  this  letter  short. 

I  said  this  evening  that  if  I  was  sure  this  expedition  would  go  no 
farther  the  next  four  days  than  it  has  those  just  past,  I  would  be 
glad  to  take  despatches  to  Lincoln  and  return,  just  for  the  sake  of 
getting  home  again  for  a  few  hours.  .  .  . 

On  Little  Missonii,  May  SOtli— 10  p.-m. 

...  I  am  determined  to  sit  up,  even  though  it  is  ten  o'clock,  and 
write  to  you,  notwithstanding  I  have  had  a  tremendous  day's  work. 
I  breakfasted  at  four  o'clock,  was  in  the  saddle  at  five,  and  between 
that  hour  and  6  p.m.  I  rode  fifty  miles  over  a  rough  country,  un- 
known to  everybody,  and  only  myself  for  a  guide. 

"We  had  halted  here  for  one  day  in  order  to  determine  the  truth  of 
the  many  rumors  which  you  and  all  of  us  have  heard  so  long  and 


•  They  botli  took  advantage  of  their  first  absence  from  home  to  partake  of 
their  favorite  vegetable.  Onions  were  permitted  at  our  table,  but  after  iiulnlging 
in  them  they  finiud  themselves  severely  let  alone,  and  tU.'»t  they  did  not  enjoy. 


306  APPENDIX. 

often,  to  the  effect  that  the  hostile  Indians  were  gathered  on  the 
Little  jMissouri  River,  with  the  intention  of  fighting  us  here. 

I  suggested  to  General  Terr}^  to  send  out  a  strong  scout ing-party 
up  the  river  to  find  out  all  that  could  be  ascertained.  He  left  the 
matter  to  nie,  and  I  took  four  companies  of  cavalry  and  a  part  of 
the  scouts,  and  at  five  o'clock  Ave  were  off.  The  valley  of  the 
river  averages  about  one  mile  in  width,  hemmed  in  on  both  sides 
by  impassable  Bad  Lands.  The  river  is  crooked  beyond  descrip- 
tion. 

To  shorten  the  story,  we  marched  the  fifty  miles  and  got  back 
before  dark,  having  settled  the  question  beyond  a  doubt  that  all 
stories  about  large  bodies  of  Indians  being  here  are  the  merest 
bosh.  None  have  been  here  for  six  months,  not  even  a  small  hunt- 
ing-party. 

"We  took  pack-mules  Avith  us  to  carry  feed  for  the  horses.  When 
we  lunched,  all  the  officers  got  together  and  we  had  a  jolly  time. 

Only  think,  we  found  the  Little  Missouri  River  so  crooked  and  the 
Bad  Lands  so  impassable  that  in  marching  fifty  miles  to-day  Ave 
forded  the  river  thirty-four  (34)  times.  The  bottom  is  quicksand. 
Many  of  the  horses  Avent  down,  frequently  tumbling  their  riders  into 
the  water;  but  all  Avcre  in  good  spirits,  and  every  one  laughed  at 
every  one  else's  mishaps. 

General  Terry  just  left  my  tent  a  feAV  moments  since,  and  when  I 
asked  him  not  to  be  in  a  hurry  he  said,"  Oh,  I'll  leaA^e  you,  for  you 
must  be  tired  and  Avact  to  go  to  bed."  I  did  not  tell  him  that  I  was 
going  to  Avrite  to  you  before  I  slept. 

Bloody  Knife  looks  on  in  Avonder  at  me  because  I  never  get  tired, 
and  says  no  other  man  could  ride  all  night  and  never  sleep.  I  know 
I  shall  sleep  soundly  when  I  do  lie  down;  but,  actually,  I  feel  no 
more  fatigued  uov/  than  I  did  before  mounting  my  horse  this  morn- 
ing. .  .  . 

What  I  am  going  to  tell  you  is  for  you  alone.     But came  to 

me  the  other  day,  and  asked  me  to  arrange  that  he  should  be  stationed 
at  our  post  next  Avinter.  He  says  he  Avants  to  be  in  a  garrison  Avhcre 
the  duty  is  strict,  and,  above  all,  he  desires  to  prove  that  he  is,  and 
desires  to  be,  a  man,  and  he  belicA'^es  that  he  could  do  much  better 
than  he  has  if  he  could  serve  under  me.  He  says  the  very  atmo- 
sphere of  his  post  seems  filled  Avith  evil  for  him.     I  have  a  scheme 


ArPEXDIX.  307 

by  wliich  I  think  I  cau  accomplisli  his  coming,  and  I  believe  that 
you  will  approve.* 

The  scouts  reached  here  in  good  time,  and  glad  was  I  lo  get  my 
letters.  .  .  . 

lu  Camp,  about  Ten  Miles  West  of  the  Little  Missouri, 
May  31st. 

.  .  .  We  left  camp  about  eight  o'clock.  After  marching  a  few 
miles,  Tom,  "Bos, "and  I,  taking  some  men,  started  on  a  near  route 
across  the  country,  knowing  that  we  would  intercept  the  column 
later  on.  This  is  the  second  time  I  have  left  the  main  command, 
and  both  times  they  have  lost  their  way;  so  you  see  my  "bump  of 
locality  "  is  of  some  use  out  here.  We  reached  this  camp  about  three- 
quarters  of  an  hour  from  the  time  we  left  the  column,  but  the  latter 
strayed  off,  and  while  we  were  here  by  9  a.m.,  the  rest  did  not  reach 
here  until  two  o'clock.  When  they  found  they  were  lost,  the  officers 
all  assembled  at  the  head  of  the  column  to  consult  together  and  try 
and  find  the  right  way. 

To-day,  while  out  with  Tom  and  "Bos,"  we  were  riding  through  a 
part  of  the  country  filled  with  small  huttes,  in  which  it  was  easy  to 
lose  one's  self.  "Bos"  stopped  a  few  moments  as  we  were  riding 
through  a  ravine,  and  dismounted  to  take  a  pebble  from  his  pony's 
shoe.  I  observed  it,  and  said  to  Tom,  "Let's  slip  round  the  hill  be- 
hind '  Bos,'  where  he  can't  find  us,  and  when  he  starts  we'll  fire  in  the 
air  near  him."  The  moment  we  passed  out  of  sight  our  entire  party 
galloped  around  the  hill  behind  him  and  concealed  ourselves.  Tom 
and  I  crawled  to  the  top  of  the  hill  and  peeped  through  the  grass 
without  being  seen.  Sure  enough, ' '  Bos  "  thought  he  was  lost,  as  we 
could  nowhere  be  seen  in  the  direction  he  expected  to  find  us. 

Tom  and  I  were  watching  him,  and  just  as  he  seemed  in  a  quan- 
dary as  to  where  we  were,  I  fired  my  rifle  so  that  the  bullet  whizzed 
over  his  head.  I  popped  out  of  sight  for  a  moment,  and  when  I 
looked  again  "Bos"  was  heading  his  pony  towards  the  command, 
miles  awa3^  I  fired  another  shot  in  his  direction,  and  so  did  Tom, 
and  away  ' '  Bos  "  flew  across  the  plains,  thinking,  no  doubt,  the  Sioux 


*  We  bad  been  extremely  anxious  iibotit  the  officer  to  whom  my  husband  re- 
fers, and  longed  to  save  him  from  himself.  Since  he  is  gone,  I  thiuk  that  I  am  not 
betraying  confilencc  in  quoting  from  this  letter. 


308  ArPEXDIX. 

were  after  him.  Tom  and  I  mounted  our  horses  and  soon  over- 
hauled him.     He  will  not  hear  the  last  of  it  for  some  time. 

Charlie  Reynolds  killed  two  big-horn  sheep  to-day  and  gave  me 
the  finest  of  the  two  heads.  I  have  it  in  my  tent  now  and  hope  to 
preserve  it,  although  I  came  away  without  my  preservative  powders. 

Nearly  all  my  amusement  is  with  "Bos"  and  Tom.  We  lunch 
together  every  day.  ...  I  have  about  made  up  my  mind  that  when 
I  go  on  expeditions  like  this  you  are  to  go  too.  You  could  have 
endured  this  as  well  as  not.  .  .  . 

Towdei'  Rivei',  about  Twenty  Tililes  above  its  IMonth, 
June  9,  1S76. 

.  .  .  We  are  now  in  a  country  heretofore  un visited  by  white  men. 
Reynolds,  who  had  been  guiding  the  command,  lost  his  way  the 
other  day,  and  General  Terry  did  not  know  Vv^hat  to  do  about  find- 
ing a  road  from  O'Fallon's  Creek  across  to  Powder  River.  I  told 
him  I  thought  I  could  guide  the  column.  He  assented;  so  Tom, 
"Bos,"  and  I  started  ahead,  with  company  D  and  the  scouts  as  escort, 
and  brought  the  command  to  this  point,  over  what  seems  to  ])e  the 
only  practicable  route  for  miles  on  cither  side,  through  the  worst 
kind  of  Bad  Lands.  The  general  did  not  believe  it  possible  to  find 
a  road  through.  When,  after  a  hard  day's  work,  we  arrived  at  this 
river  by  a  good,  easy  road,  making  thirty-tv/o  miles  in  one  day,  he 
was  delighted  and  came  to  congratulate  me. 

Yesterday  I  finished  a  Galaxy  article,  which  will  go  in  the  next 
mail ;  so,  you  see,  I  am  not  entirely  idle.  Day  before  yesterday  I 
rode  nearly  fifty  miles,  arose  yesterday  morning,  and  went  to  work 
at  my  article,  determined  to  finish  it  before  night,  which  I  did, 
amidst  constant  interruptions.  It  is  now  nearly  midnight,  and  I 
must  go  to  my  bed,  for  reveille  comes  at  three. 

As  a  slight  evidence  that  I  am  not  very  conceited  regarding  my 
personal  appearance,  I  have  not  looked  in  a  mirror  or  seen  the  reflec- 
tion of  my  beautiful  (?)  countenance,  including  the  fine  growth  of 
auburn  whiskers,  since  I  looked  in  the  glass  at  Lincoln.* 


*  This  reference  to  the  color  of  his  beard,  which  he  only  allowed  to  grow  on 
carnpaif^ns,  was  a  reminder  of  the  fact  upon  which  we  had  lon;^  since  agreed  :  that 
though  Titian  might  have  found  beauty  in  that  tint,  we  did  not. 


APPENDIX.  309 

Ou  Yellowstone,  at  Mouth  of  Powder  River, 
June  llth— 10.30  r.M. 

,  .  .  This  morning  we  left  our  camp  on  Powder  River,  I  acting 
again  as  guide.  The  expedition  started  to  make  its  way  through 
unlvnown  Bad  Lands  to  the  moutli  of  the  river.  General  Terry  felt 
great  anxiety  in  regard  to  the  trip,  as  he  feared  that  we  could  not 
get  through  with  the  wagons.  He  had  been  down  the  river  to  its 
mouth  with  cavalry,  and  he  and  those  with  him  said  that  wagons 
could  not  make  the  march  in  a  month,  and  the  Bad  Lands  looked 
still  more  impracticable.  He  came  to  my  tent  before  daylight,  and 
asked  me  if  I  would  try  to  And  the  road.  He  seems  to  think  I  have 
a  gift  in  that  way,  and  lie  hoped  that  we  might  get  within  ten  miles 
of  the  river's  mouth  to-day.  What  rendered  our  condition  more 
embarrassing  was  that  the  men  had  only  rations  for  one  day  left. 

I  started  with  one  company  and  the  scouts,  and  in  we  "plunged 
boldly."  One  company  had  been  sent  out  the  previous  day  to  look 
for  a  road,  and  their  failure  to  return  the  same  day  increased  the 
anxiety.  I  thought  likely  they  had  lost  their  way  and  had  slept  in 
the  Bad  Lands.     Sure  enough  we  found  them  about  10  a.m. 

After  passing  through  some  perfectly  terrible  country  I  finally 
struck  a  beautiful  road  along  a  high  plateau,  and  instead  of  guiding 
the  command  within  ten  miles  of  here  we  have  all  arrived  and  the 
wagon-train  beside. 

If  you  will  look  on  the  map  near  my  desk  j^ou  will  find  the  mouth 
of  Powder  River  and  our  present  location  on  the  Yellowstone, 
almost  due  west  from  Lincoln.  Follow  up  the  Yellowstone  a  short 
distance,  and  the  first  stream  you  come  to  is  the  Tongue  River,  to 
which  point  we  will  move  after  resting  three  or  four  days.  We 
will  there  be  joined  by  the  six  companies  of  the  regiment  now  ab- 
sent on  a  scout,  and  I  shall  then  select  the  nine  companies  to  go 
witli  me.  .  .  . 

The  steamer  Far  West  leaves  for  Fort  Buford  to-morrow.  .  .  . 
As  I  was  up  at  three  this  morning,  and  have  had  a  hard  day's  march, 
and  as  it  is  now  going  on  to  twelve,  I  must  hie  to  bed  to  get  a  little 
rest  and  slumber.   .   .  . 

Monday,  June  12th— before  Breakfast. 

...  I  rose  early  this  morning,  without  waiting  to  be  called  to 
breakfast,  in  order  that  I  might  write  my  letter.     The  Yellowstone 


yio  ArrENDix. 

is  verj'  high ;  steamers  loaded  to  their  utmost  capacity  can  go  up 
some  distance  above  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Horn.  I  wanted  to  send 
you  a  letter  that  I  wished  you  to  read  and  afterwards  re-mail,  had  I 
not  thought  you  might  have  found  an  opportunity  to  come  up  the 
river  in  the  Josepliine.  The  new  supplies  for  our  mess — of  onions, 
potatoes,  and  dried  apples — have  just  come  from  tlie  boat. 

' '  Tuck  "  *  regularly  comes  when  I  am  writing,  and  laj^s  her  head 
on  the  desk,  rooting  up  my  hand  with  her  long  nose  until  I  consent 
to  stop  and  notice  her.  She  and  Swift,  Lady  and  Kaiser  sleep  in 
my  tent. 

You  need  not  be  anxirus  about  my  leaving  the  column  with  small 
escorts;  I  scarcely  hunt  any  more, f  .  .  . 

Mouth  of  ToDgue  River,  Jane  17th. 

...  I  fear  that  my  last  letter,  written  from  the  mouth  of  Powder 
River,  Avas  not  received  in  very  good  condition  by  you.  The  mail 
was  sent  in  a  row-boat  from  the  stockade  to  Buford,  under  charge  of 
a  sergeant  and  three  or  four  men  of  the  6th  Infantry.  Just  as  they 
were  pushing  off  from  the  FarWest  the  boat  capsized,  and  mail  and 
soldiers  wxtc  thrown  into  the  rapid  current ;  the  sergeant  sank  and 
was  never  seen  again.  The  mail  was  recovered,  after  being  sub- 
merged for  five  or  ten  minutes.  Captain  Marsh  and  several  others 
sat  up  all  night  and  dried  it  by  the  stove.  I  was  told  that  my  letter 
to  you  went  off  all  right,  also  my  Qalaxy  article.  The  latter  was 
recognized  by  a  young  newspaper  reporter  and  telegraph  operator 
who  came  up  on  the  train  with  us  from  St.  Paul,  and  he  took  special 
pains  in  drying  it. 

With  six  companies  of  the  7th,  the  Gatling  battery,  the  scouts,  and 
the  pack-mules,  I  left  the  mouth  of  Powder  River  Thursday  morn- 
ing, leaving  all  our  wagons  behind,  and  directing  our  march  for  this 
point,  less  than  forty  miles  distant.  General  Terry  and  staff  fol- 
lowed by  steamer.  We  marched  here  in  about  one  and  a  quarter 
days.  The  boat  arrived  yesterday  evening.  .  .  .  The  officers  were 
ordered  to  leave  their  tents  behind.  They  are  now  lying  under  tent- 
flies  or  in  shelter-tents.  When  we  leave  here  I  shall  only  take  a  tent- 
fly.     We  are  living  delightfully.     This  morning  we  had  a  splendid 

*  She  was  my  husband's  favorite  dog. 

t  This  letter  was  scorched  and  def.iccd,  but  fortunately  I  could  read  it  all, 
thauks  to  those  who  pat  np  all  night  to  dry  the  mail. 


APPEXDIX.  311 

dish  of  fried  fish,  which  Tom,  "Eos," and  I  caught  a  few  steps  from 
my  tent  last  evening. 

Tlie  other  day,  on  our  marcii  from  Powder  River,  I  shot  an  antelope. 
That  night,  while  sitting  round  the  camp  -  fire,  and  while  Hughes 
was  making  our  coffee,  I  roasted  some  of  the  ribs  Indian  fashion, 
and  I  must  say  they  were  delicious.  We  all  slept  in  the  open  air 
around  the  fire,  Tom  and  I  under  a  fly,  "Bos  "  and  Autie  Reed  on 
the  opposite  side.  Tom  pelted  "Bos"  with  sticks  and  clods  of 
earth  after  avc  had  retired.  I  don't  know  what  we  would  do  with 
out  "  Bos  "  to  tease.  .  .  . 

Yesterday  Tom  and  I  saw  a  wild-goose  flying  over-head  quite 
high  in  the  air.  We  were  in  the  bushes  and  could  not  see  each 
other.  Neither  knew  that  the  other  intended  to  fire.  Both  fired 
simultaneously,  and  down  came  the  goose,  killed.  Don't  you  think 
that  pretty  good  shooting  for  rifles? 

On  our  march  here  we  passed  through  some  very  extensive  Indian 
villages — rather  the  remains  of  villages  occupied  by  them  last  winter. 
I  was  at  the  head  of  the  column  as  we  rode  through  one,  and  sudden 
ly  came  upon  a  human  skull  lying  under  the  remains  of  an  extinct 
fire.  I  halted  to  examine  it,  and  lying  near  by  I  found  the  uniform 
of  a  soldier.  Evidently  it  was  a  cavalry  uniform,  as  the  buttons  on 
the  overcoat  had  "C"  on  them,  and  the  dress  coat  liad  the  yellow 
cord  of  the  cavalry  uniform  running  through  it.  The  skull  was 
weather-beaten,  and  had  evidently  been  there  several  months.  All 
the  circumstances  went  to  show  that  the  skull  was  that  of  some  poor 
mortal  who  had  been  a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  the  savages,  and 
who  doubtless  had  been  tortured  to  death,  probably  burned.  .  .  . 

Wc  are  expecting  the  Josephine  to  arrive  in  a  day  or  two.  I  hope 
that  it  will  bring  me  a  good  long  letter  from  you,  otherwise  I  do  not 
fcer particularly  interested  in  her  arrival — unless,  by  good-luck,  you 
should  be  on  board;  you  might  just  as  well  be  here  as  not.  ...  I 
hope  to  begin  another  Galaxy  article,  if  the  spirit  is  favorable.  .  .  . 

Mnnth  of  Rosebud,  June  21,  ISTG. 

.  .  .  Look  on  my  map  and  you  will  find  our  present  location  on  the 
Yellowstone,  about  midway  between  Tongue;  River  and  tlic  Big  Horn. 

The  scouting-party  has  returned.  They  saw  the  trail  and  deserted 
camp  of  a  village  of  three  hundred  and  eighty  (380)  lodges.  The 
trail  was  about  one  week  old.     The  scouts  reported  that  they  could 


313  APPEXDIX. 

have  overtaken  the  village  in  one  day  and  a  half.  I  am  now  going 
to  take  up  the  trail  where  the  scouting-party  turned  back.  I  fear 
their  failure  to  follow  up  the  Indians  has  imperilled  our  plans  by 
giving  the  village  an  intimation  of  our  presence.  Think  of  the 
valuable  time  lost!  But  I  feel  hopeful  of  accomplishing  great  re- 
sults. I  will  move  directly  up  the  valley  of  the  Rosebud.  General 
Gibbon's  command  and  General  Terry,  with  steamer,  will  proceed  up 
the  Big  Horn  as  far  as  the  boat  can  go.  .  .  .  I  hke  campaigning 
with  pack-mules  much  better  than  with  wagons,  leaving  out  the 
question  of  luxuries.     We  take  no  tents,  and  desire  none. 

I  now  have  some  Crow  scouts  with  me,  as  they  are  familiar  with 
the  country.  They  are  magnificent-looking  men,  so  much  hand- 
somer and  more  Indian-like  than  any  we  have  ever  seen,  and  so 
jolly  and  sportive;  nothing  of  the  gloomy,  silent  red-man  about 
them.  They  have  formally  given  themselves  to  me,  after  the  usual 
talk.  In  their  speech  they  said  they  had  heard  that  I  never  aban- 
doned a  trail ;  that  when  my  food  gave  out  I  ate  mule.  That  was 
the  kind  of  a  man  they  wanted  to  fight  under;  they  were  willing  to 
eat  mule  too. 

I  am  going  to  send  six  Ree  scouts  to  Powder  River  with  the  mail; 
from  there  it  will  go  with  other  scouts  to  Fort  Buford.  .  .  . 

June  22a— 11  A.M. 

...  I  have  but  a  few  moments  to  write,  as  we  move  at  twelve, 
and  I  have  my  hands  full  of  preparations  for  the  scout.  ...  Do 
not  be  anxious  about  me.  You  would  be  surprised  to  know  how 
closely  I  obey  your  instructions  about  keeping  with  the  column.  I 
hope  to  have  a  good  report  to  send  you  by  the  next  mail.  ...  A  suc- 
cess will  start  us  all  towards  Lincoln.  .  .  . 

I  send  you  an  extract  from  General  Terry's  ofl3cial  order,  know- 
ing how  keenly  you  appreciate  words  of  commendation  and  confi- 
dence, such  as  the  following:  "It  is  of  course  impossible  to  give 
you  any  definite  instructions  in  regard  to  this  movement;  and  were 
it  not  impossible  to  do  so,  the  Department  Commander  places  toe 
much  confidence  in  your  zeal,  energy,  and  ability  to  wish  to  impose 
upon  you  precise  orders,  which  might  hamper  your  action  when 
nearly  in  contact  with  the  enemy." 

THE  END. 


